May 4, 18 and June 1. See how the economy’s reopening will go in Portugal

After three states of emergency because of the pandemic, which forced the closure of most economic activities, the country will begin to reopen. António Costa presented on Thursday the gradual plan to return to normal, or to the “new normal” until there is a treatment or vaccine against Covid-19. There will be three distinct phases (May 4, May 18 and June 1).

May 4 will be the first phase of the country’s reopening. There will no longer be a state of emergency but Portugal will have to move on to the state of calamity, meaning that the duty of confinement will continue. Even in this stage, some shops can reopen, but only on May 18 will there be a wider opening.

Finally, and if the evolution of public health allows it – that is, if the number of new infections does not rise in such a way as to jeopardize the sustainability of the NHS – on June 1 the country may reach a level of activity closer to that known before the arrival of the virus in Portugal.

See here, phase by phase, what is already known about the reopening plan:

Local businesses open their doors on May 4

In this first phase, it will be allowed the reopening of some stores that were forced to close with the state of emergency, decreed for the first time on March 19 by the President of Portugal.

• Small businesses, namely stores up to 200 square meters;
• Hairdressers and beauticians, as well as barbershops;
• Bookstores;
• Individual sporting activities are allowed, although without the use of changing rooms;
• Universities may return, but are not obliged. Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra can continue to have distance learning and resume only practical classes.

From May 18 to 31. Reopening restaurants and football is back

The government had already said that after taking the first steps in reopening the economy, it would monitor the effects on public health every 15 days. Thus, and if the contagions by Covid-19 do not register a significant leap, two weeks later, on May 18, we could see more businesses to open doors, including restaurants, as well as the return of classes for the older ones.

This is what can open in the second phase:

• Commercial spaces of up to 400 square metres, although municipal councils will have a special prerogative that will give them the power to allow stores with larger areas to open.
• Cafes, pastries and restaurants, but with conditions. The reopening of these establishments will take place with half the capacity, in order to ensure social distancing within the space, according to Radio Renascença.
• Some cultural spaces and museums.
• The classes are back for students of the 11th and 12th grades.
• Day care centers, although the government keeps the state aid for parents who stay at home with their children. This state aid will be in place until the end of May.
• Football will be able to return without spectators in the stadiums. The Liga Nos can resume games on the weekend of May 30 and 31.

Large surfaces only on June 1

Finally, as the pandemic develops in a controlled way, there will be the opening of more commercial spaces, namely the large stores, where many people gather.

Thus, in the third and final phase of this reopening on June 1:

• Commercial spaces of over 400 square meters, including shopping malls;
• After kindergartens, the preschool will also reopen.
• The polytechnic institutes may be left for the end and with restrictions.
• Football will be able to return without spectators in the stadiums.
• The start of the bathing season should bring limitations on access to beaches.