Portugal to loosen Covid-19 restrictions starting August 1

After this Thursday’s Council of Ministers meeting, the Portuguese government decided to loosen the covid-19 restrictions through a three-stage process, that will depend on the pace of vaccination against the disease. The first stage will start on August 1.

Learn about all the measures:

First stage (August 1):

• Retail, restaurants and cultural events with normal opening hours (2 a.m.);
• End of the night-time curfew (11 p.m. to 5 a.m.);
• Sporting events allowed to have public;
• Cultural shows will have a 66% capacity limit;
• Telework is no longer mandatory and is now recommended;
• Weddings and christenings with a 50% capacity limit.

Second stage – 70% of the population fully vaccinated (September)

• End of mandatory use of masks on the public streets;
• Weddings and christenings with a 75% capacity limit;
• Cultural shows with 75% capacity limit;
• Public transport with no capacity limit;
• Public services without prior booking;

Phase 3 – 85% of the population fully vaccinated (October)

• Bars and nightclubs reopen;
•  End of capacity limits on all establishments.

(Article last updated at 6h02 p.m.)