The new measures to respond to the worsening of the Covid-19 pandemic in Portugal were made public on Thursday, November 25, 2021. Among them is the return of the mandatory use of masks, the strengthening of testing and a week of containment in January. Know everything that changes in this explanatory guide.
Approved by the Council of Ministers, the new rules were justified by the Prime Minister, António Costa, by the fact that the "situation is getting worse" in the country and also because we are "entering a phase of greater risk", with the growth of the pandemic in the rest of Europe, the proximity of winter and also the season of family gatherings and festivals.
Even so, he stressed that "thanks to the success of vaccination [in Portugal], we are better than a year ago", whether in the number of cases, hospitalisations, or deaths. And even further, "we are better than other countries", he underlined. Note that in Portugal 87.78% of the population is already vaccinated, one of the highest vaccination rates in Europe and the world.
To prevent the spread of the disease new measures were designed. And to ensure that these have a legal framework, mainland Portugal has entered into a state of emergency on Wednesday, 1 December 2021, the day on which most measures came into force.
Telework and regular testing recommended
Teleworking and regular testing are not on the list of new rules, but are recommended by the Government to help contain the pandemic of Covid-19.
Obligatory use of masks in enclosed spaces
As the use of masks is one of the three main tools of the executive to contain the worsening of the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of masks will again be compulsory in all enclosed spaces. Spaces defined by the Directorate-General of Health as exceptions to this rule may be left out.
The Covid-19 digital certificate
The Covid-19 digital certificate becomes mandatory again in order to access:
- restaurants;
- tourist establishments and local accommodation;
- gyms;
- events with marked seats (theatres, cinema, shows).
The presentation of the digital certificate - which may be for vaccination, testing or recovery - had been waived under the last deconfinement measures, but the obligation returns now due to the worsening of the epidemiological situation.
Compulsory testing
From December 1, it is mandatory to present a negative Covid-19 test, even for those who have been vaccinated, when accessing:
- visits to nursing homes;
- visits to patients admitted to healthcare facilities;
- large events without assigned seats or in improvised venues and sports venues;
- nightclubs and bars.
As for events, António Costa stressed that the presentation of a negative test is mandatory in "all major events, whatever their nature, cultural or sporting, which take place in improvised seating, without marked seats and in all sports venues, indoors or outdoors".
Travel to Portugal with new rules
The presentation of a diagnostic test with a negative result will also become mandatory for all passengers flying to Portugal from 1 December, "whatever the point of origin and whatever the passenger's nationality", he stressed.
The valid tests for travel are the PCR, done in a laboratory, which can be done up to 72 hours before boarding. In addition, antigen tests performed in pharmacies are valid for 48 hours. The only tests excluded are self-tests, which do not allow an objective proof of testing.
In addition to this obligation, airlines that transport passengers without a Covid-19 negative test will incur fines of 20 thousand euros per person and the Government will also "increase the accessory sanctions that can culminate in the suspension of the flight licenses of these companies to national territory".
Contact containment week in January
During the first week of January, a set of measures will be in place to reduce contacts, with the aim of containing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 after the Christmas and New Year period.
So, between 2nd and 9th January, discos and bars will be closed, and will have access to simplified lay-offs, writes Jornal de Negócios. And also during this period, teleworking will be compulsory.
In addition, the restart of the school year has been postponed to 10 January, instead of the date initially set in the school calendar, which forecast the start of the 2nd term on the 3rd of January. The postponement, applied to all public and private schools as well as nursery schools, will be compensated for by two days in the Carnival break and another three in the Easter holidays.
In the case of workers who have to accompany their young children, they can ask for family support, which pays 66 percent of their basic salary, with half being provided by the companies, the same newspaper reports.
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