Almost 2,000 passengers, 40 airlines fined in one month for Covid-19 document offences
According to the Interior Ministry, between December 1, 2021 and January 2, 2022, PSP and SEF inspected 1,183,305 passengers and 10,834 flights, resulting in 1,963 fines.
Almost 2,000 passengers and 40 airlines were fined at Portuguese airports in the first month of compulsory negative test for SARS-CoV-2, or recovery certificate, upon arrival in the country, said the Interior Ministry on Monday.
The ministry (MAI) told Lusa that between December 1, 2021 and January 2, 2022, PSP and SEF inspected 1,183,305 passengers and 10,834 flights, resulting in 1,963 fines.
Of the 1,963 offences, 1,234 were issued by the PSP, which checks passengers from flights originating in the Schengen area (European area for the free movement of persons), and 729 by the SEF, which checks travellers from countries outside the Schengen area.
Since December 1, 2021, all passengers arriving in Portugal by air are required to present a negative test or recovery certificate upon disembarkation.
Exempted from the requirement of testing, PCR or rapid, are passengers on domestic flights, those under 12 years of age and crews.
Airlines that transport passengers without a negative test incur a fine between €20,000 and €40,000 per passenger and travellers are also subject to fines ranging from €300 to €800 for failure to present a test on arrival.
The MAI also states that the 1,963 offences include eight foreigners who were refused entry into the country for not showing the test on arrival, since the test is only allowed at the airport for citizens of Portuguese nationality, foreigners residing in Portugal and diplomatic personnel.
Data from MAI also show that 1,979 diagnostic tests were carried out at airports for passengers who entered the country without this document.
At land borders, also since December 1, citizens from countries outside the European Union and EU countries considered at risk red or dark red need a negative test or certificate of recovery.
Citizens from EU countries considered to be at low or moderate risk must carry a vaccination, test or recuperation certificate to enter Portugal.
The GNR and the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) carried out until January 2, 10,331 random surveillance operations at land borders to ensure Covid-19 testing, according to the MAI.
As part of these operations, 64,176 inspections were carried out on light and goods vehicles, motorbikes, trains and buses, which resulted in 36 fines.
The MAI also refers that 488 diagnostic tests were carried out at land borders.
