New containment measures in Portugal

January 13, 2021

Portugal is no exception to the rule. The country is paying dearly for the end-of-year festivities, with new “records” for deaths and covid-19 cases in recent days. Deaths are flirting with 150 a day, and covid-19 cases with 10,000 a day. A new containment in Portugal has therefore just been announced in order to contain the spread of covid-19 in Portugal. Find out more about the measures in place and the exceptions in this article.

The new containment in Portugal: when?

Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa has announced a new lockdown in Portugal, starting Friday January 15 at 00:01 and lasting at least until 23:59 on January 30.

The general lockdown will be similar to last year’s, but the main difference is that schools will not be closed. Please note that as of January 22, 2021, the government has decided to finally close schools in Portugal.

The new lockdown in Portugal: what measures?

The new lockdown in Portugal: the 24 exceptions

a) purchasing essential goods and services;b) accessing public services by appointment;c) carrying out professional or similar activities, where teleworking is not possible;d) looking for work or responding to an offer of work;e) attending to health reasons, in particular to obtain health care and transporting people to whom such care should be provided ;f) emergency accommodation for victims of domestic violence or human trafficking, as well as travel to intervene in the protection of children and young people at risk; g) assistance for vulnerable people, the disabled, children, parents, the elderly or dependent persons;h) other compelling family reasons, including the exercise of shared parental responsibilities;k) attendance by disabled people at work activity centers;l) physical activity and outdoor sports, alone or in the company of members of the same household living together;m) the enjoyment of outdoor moments and the walking of domestic animals, which must be of short duration and take place in the area of residence, alone or in the company of members of the same household living together;n) the care of animals by veterinary surgeons, animal keepers for medical-veterinary care, o) participation in social volunteer actions;p) visits to users of residential structures for the elderly and the disabled;q) visits, where authorized, or the delivery of essential goods to the disabled;r) the performance of duties by leaders of the social partners and political parties represented in the Assembly of the Republic; s) the performance of official duties by staff of diplomatic missions, consular posts and international organizations located in Portugal;t) participation, in any capacity whatsoever, in the electoral campaign or in the election of the President of the Republic, in particular with a view to exercising the right to vote;u) participation in proceedings before judicial bodies or in acts falling within the competence of notaries, lawyers, solicitors or registrars;v) access to post offices, bank branches and branches of insurance intermediaries or insurance companies;w) exercise of the freedom of the press ;x) travel to and from the mainland, including travel to and from accommodation;y) other activities of a similar nature or for other reasons of force majeure or overriding necessity, provided they are duly justified;z) return home in connection with the travel mentioned in the preceding points.

In conclusion

Of course, you must continue to respect the rules set down by your country. It is important to keep abreast of developments, and I invite you to consult the government website and the website of the French Embassy in Portugal.

Finally, I remind you that if you have any symptoms on the spot, contact the SAUDE 24 number(Portuguese health service) on 808 24 24 24.

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