António Costa unveils plan to end Portugal’s lockdown
A new plan to ease Portugal's lockdown could see all legal limits on social contact lifted by May 3.
The Portuguese have been under tight restraints for almost two months, after the easing of some lockdown measures over Christmas, and the New Year, triggered a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases. However, the country’s pandemic situation is now more under control according to the Portuguese epidemiologists.
In this context, António Costa’s government presented on Thursday the long-awaited deconfinement plan.
What will open starting on March 15:
- Kindergartens and 1st cycle schools;
- Bookshops;
- Sale to the wicket in non-food shops;
- hairdressers, barbers, beauty salons and similar establishments;
- Car dealers and real estate agents;
- Until Easter, the general duty of lockdown will continue.
On April 5:
- Middle schools;
- Shops with door to the street up to 200 square meters;
- Restaurants, cafes and bakeries can open up outside terraces (with no more than 4 people together);
- Museums, galleries and others.
- Gyms without group classes.
On April 19:
- secondary and higher education;
- Theatres and auditoriums;
- Citizens’ shops (Loja do cidadão);
- Restaurants, cafes and bakeries may have table service inside their establishment (with no more than 4 people);
- Outdoor events with a capacity defined by the DGS;
- shops (larger than 200 square metres) and shopping centres;
- Weddings with 25% of the venues’ capacity;
On May 3:
- Restaurants, cafes and bakeries with table service inside;
- Large outdoor and indoor events with capacity defined by DGS;
- Weddings with a capacity of 50%;
- Gyms with group classes.
