Government extends state of alert, coronavirus measures to April 18

Portugal’s government has extended the state of alert in force in the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic for almost four more weeks, until April 18, according to a statement from the cabinet.

The state of alert – the lowest level of response to disaster situations under Portugal’s Basic Law of Civil Protection – had been due to end on March 30.

“The Council of Ministers today approved the resolution that extends the declaration of the alert situation, under the pandemic disease covid-19, until 11:59 pm on April 18 2022,” reads the statement released after Thursday’s weekly cabinet meeting.

According to the government, the resolution “maintains unchanged the measures currently in force”.

Among the measures in force is the mandatory use of masks in public indoor spaces, including health units, and on public transport.

For those who have not had a booster dose of a vaccine against Covid-19, the presentation of a negative result from a test for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is required to visit nursing homes and health facilities, due to the fact that they care for people who are especially vulnerable to the disease.