Public transport without limits, larger groups in restaurants. This is what changes in Portugal this Monday
The calamity situation is over and Portugal moves to a state of contingency, under which the easing of several restrictions on the mainland planned for early September has been brought forward.
The rules to control the pandemic in Portugal are less rigid from this Monday, the day in which Portugal decided to bring earlier the second phase of deconfinement (previously planned for early September), due to having reached a vaccination rate against Covid-19 of 70%.
One of the main changes is the end of the capacity limit for public transport. From now on, an ordinary bus with 85 seats can carry 85 people. Similarly, a taxi can seat four passengers, including in the passenger seat.
In addition to the lifting of limits on transport, restaurants, cafes and pastry shops will now have a maximum limit of eight people per group inside, instead of six, and 15 people per group on outdoor terraces, instead of 10.
In this second phase of the easing of restrictions, cultural shows will have a 75% capacity limit (instead of the current 66%), as well as events such as weddings and christenings.
The maximum capacity of shops will increase from the current five people per 100 square metres to eight people, also from Monday, while public services, such as one-stop citizen shops, will start operating without prior booking from September 1.
Also, by decision of the government, the calamity situation is over and Portugal moves to a state of contingency, under which the easing of several restrictions on the mainland planned for early September has been brought forward to next Monday.
(Article last updated at 11.30 a.m.)
