Portugal announces new Covid-19 containment measures

The Portuguese prime minister announced this Thursday new measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

It’s official. The Portuguese government advances with new measures to contain Covid-19, given the increased number of infected in the country, announced the prime minister, after this Thursday’s cabinet meeting.

António Costa began his speech to the country by announcing the return of the State of Calamity to national territory on December 1. Among the measures listed by the prime minister was the requirement of a negative test and the vaccination certificate to enter Portugal.

In addition, the government makes teleworking compulsory and forces nightclubs to close their doors between January 2 and 9, the week after Christmas and New Year’s Eve. According to António Costa, this will be a week of “containment” to ensure there is no significant increase in cases following the festive season.

These are the new measures:

  • A negative Covid-19 test and the vaccination certificate is needed to enter Portugal, regardless of the country of origin;
  • Face masks are mandatory in indoor spaces;
  • EU Digital Covid certificate is required in restaurants, gyms, events with assigned seats, tourism establishments and local accommodation;
  • A negative Covid-19 test is mandatory to access nursing homes, healthcare establishments, large events without seating and sports venues, nightclubs and bars.

Between January 2 and 9:

  • Mandatory telework regime;
  • Schools resume classes on January 10;
  • Nightclubs closed.