A guide to ALL the restrictions for Christmas, NYE and everything else // Cuts to ‘golden visa’ scheme
Portuguese news in English on December 23, 2020.
By the numbers
There doesn’t seem to be that much of a clear pattern emerging from the figures at the moment outside of the very gradual drop in cases we’ve been seeing. The 14-day average has increased slightly today but we’ll have to watch for the rest of the week to see if that’s any sort of change or just a one-day blip. Today is also the first time in a long while that the number of confirmed cases in Lisbon and the Tejo Valley (see the map below) has been so close to the number in the North. Let’s hope that’s due to an improving situation in the north rather than a worsening in Lisbon.
A quick announcement: I will be visiting my family in Australia after Christmas. Getting there is going to take a few days so I won’t have another newsletter for you until next week or possibly the new year. Because of the time difference, these updates will be arriving in the morning (Portugal time) in January and February with figures from the day before. Thank you for your understanding and continuous support this year. I wish you all a very safe and merry Christmas and a vastly better new year.
A complete-ish wrap of all of the pandemic restrictions
It’s genuinely hard to keep track of all these restrictions so I thought I’d share this super handy tool from publisher SAPO (thanks for the tip, Rosanna). Pandemia Clara lets you put in a date and a council area to see what restrictions are in place, including all the measures that have been in place for months that you may have almost forgotten about. This should be particularly useful for new arrivals as the government tends to focus on new restrictions on its advice pages. Unfortunately it’s only in Portuguese but it works well with Chrome’s browser translator (and probably those in Safari and Edge as well). It’s going to be super useful for double-checking any Christmas and New Year’s Eve restrictions you’re unsure about in the next few days.
I’m going to summarise the restrictions in place currently, which I’ll try to keep updated constantly at the same link so you can click the title of this email and save the page for later.
It takes a lot of work to keep this newsletter going (especially this edition, as you’ll see from the length!). Please help out if you can.
General national restrictions
These rules (full list in Portuguese) apply everywhere but are more severe in councils with a higher covid-19 risk (see below). You must wear a mask at work, on public transport and in enclosed spaces such as shops, as well as any time you’re in public and it's hard to keep two metres apart from others. Your temperature may be measured on entry to work, schools, public transport, shops and cultural and sporting spaces and a covid-19 test may be demanded to enter hospitals, schools, nursing homes, some other institutions and the country itself. Alcohol can’t be bought after 8pm (except accompanied by a meal in a restaurant) or consumed in public spaces. Weddings and baptisms are limited to 50 people, with other celebrations and restaurant groups limited to six people. In terms of opening hours, shops must shut by 11pm at the latest and restaurants have to close at 1am after accepting clients until midnight. Private vehicles can only be two-thirds full unless you live together and working from home is obligatory where possible.
Councils with a moderate risk (currently including Albufeira, Lagos and Nazaré) of covid-19 transmission only need to adhere to these restrictions. Councils with higher risk ratings have further restrictions, outlined below.
Restrictions in high-risk councils
In councils with a high risk (currently including Oeiras, Aveiro, Cascais and Sintra), the major difference is a nightly curfew from 11pm until 5pm. Exceptions include, work (with proof from your company or a signed statement if you’re a freelancer), health (doctor appointments and pharmacy visits etc), helping humans or pets in an emergency, short, local walks and shopping for food and hygiene products. However, only small local shops are able to stay open and restaurants can only serve food via delivery or takeaway. There’s a full list of exceptions here, in Portuguese, on a page with information for very high and extreme risk councils. A quick disclaimer: I have seen some reports that the curfew no longer applies to high risk councils but the majority of what I’ve seen suggests it does. See a full list of councils at the bottom of the email.
Restrictions in very-high and extreme-risk councils
Until January 7 this includes places such as Lisbon, Porto and Braga but not Oeiras, Mafra, Sintra or anywhere in the Algarve. The major difference is again the curfew, which has the same rules as above but kicks in at 1pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (except Christmas — see below). The “civic duty” to remain at home when you don’t need to be outside is also in place but isn’t legally binding, most commercial establishments must close at 10pm and markets need special authorisation from the local council. See a full list of councils at the bottom of the email.
Special Christmas restrictions
Nothing has changed since my December 7 newsletter but this is for those who missed it or need a reminder. You can leave your municipality and stay out in public as late as you want tonight (so long as you are travelling). On the night of December 24 and 25 you can stay out until 2am the following morning and on Boxing Day there is an 11pm curfew Restaurants can stay open until 1am on the night of December 24 and 25 (as in, the following morning) but must close at 3.30pm on the 26th. Despite public gatherings being limited to six people, the government is not enforcing any limit on the amount of people that can gather in private for Christmas lunch or dinner. But Prime Minister António Costa has begged people to gather with as few people as possible, spend as little time together as possible and wear a mask whenever you’re not eating or drinking.
New Year’s Eve restrictions
The government has pulled the “handbrake” on any form of New Year’s Eve celebrations, introducing new restrictions thanks to case numbers not slowing as quickly as hoped, Público reports. A curfew will kick in across the entire country — not just high-risk councils — from 11pm on New Year’s Eve and from 1pm on January 1, 2 and 3. On top of this, apart from limited exceptions for things such as work and healthcare, no one can leave their municipality (Lisbon, Oeiras, Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Matosinhos, Faro, Lagos etc) between December 31 to January 4. Parties in public, or open to the public are banned.
Travelling from the UK
Only Portuguese citizens and residents can fly into Portugal for now (Monday’s newsletter), due to a new strain of the coronavirus said to be more transmissible. I’ve managed to find a little bit more information on that front. According to the Portugues National Health Service, the test has to be carried out within 72 hours of getting on the plane and family members of citizens or residents may also travel. You have to pay for the test (Lusa reports that it costs €100) at the airport if you arrive without proof and isolate at home until you get a negative result. The same report mentions massive delays at Faro Airport and this Público report mentions problems getting Ryanair to accept de facto partners as family and a somewhat “chaotic” process on arrival in Porto. SIC Notícias reports big delays for testing in Lisbon as well and the SIC and Lusa articles mention some travellers have been allowed to leave the airport with a promise to isolate and complete a test within 48 hours. The UK government has a good wrap up of the restrictions in English, including a warning that some airlines are unlikely to let you board without a test.
Lisbon, Porto, Algarve to be cut from ‘golden visa’ scheme
The government is pulling metropolitan and coast areas such as Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve out of the “gold visa” scheme, Público reports. The aim is to encourage investment in less populated inland areas and the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira, as well as investments in sectors more likely to create jobs. Minister of State for the Presidency Mariana Vieira da Silva says the scheme will transition throughout 2021 and 2022, gradually increasing the investment need and reducing its application to metropolitan areas from July next year. Since the scheme started in 2012, 9340 “golden visas” have been handed out and €5.6 billion spent, mostly on property. The possibility of renewing existing residency authorisations is said to be safeguarded but there’s no detail about how that will work.
In brief
Prosecutors will be asked to revoke hunting licence of farm were more than 500 wild deer and boars were killed. The Environment Minister said the slaughter had nothing to do with hunting, after photos of the animals’ corpses were shared online celebrating a “super record”. Some people linked the killing to a solar installation planned for the site but the Minister said he didn’t think that was the case. (Público)
EU leaders call for citizens' responsibility in Christmas message (Lusa)
On a lighter note
It’s Christmas time and in Portugal that means sweet treats — a hell of a lot of them. For most people it also means boiled bacalhau and cabbage tomorrow night but I’m not going to get into that here for obvious reasons. So, here’s a quick round up of Portuguese Christmas desserts, along with some fun stats Time Out reports from a Facebook survey. Bolo rei (king cake) is the most important, and also the worst. Fluffy dough, dried fruit and nuts are an ok combination but even though 28% of people say it’s their favourite, they’re wrong. Rabanadas though, are great, basically French toast but often with a bit of lemon rind. Get around them. Sonhos are also generally excellent, think fluffy little balls of donut batter you can only get at this time of year. The bolo rainha (queen cake) is just a bolorei without terrible crystallised fruit. Better, but still nothing too special. I’ve never tried Filhós but apparently they’re slightly denser sonhos, which sounds pretty yum to me. Anyway, merry Christmas, go support your local pasteleria and happy eating!
Please keep sharing on Facebook, in real life or anywhere else you see people a bit confused by the latest news.
These groupings are current from December 24 until January 7
Moderate risk (<240 cases/100,000 people in a fortnight)
Albufeira
Alcobaça
Alcoutim
Aljezur
Aljustrel
Almeirim
Almodôvar
Alpiarça
Alvaiázere
Alvito
Arcos de Valdevez
Arganil
Arraiolos
Arronches
Avis
Barrancos
Beja
Benavente
Bombarral
Borba
Cadaval
Carrazeda de Ansiães
Castro Marim
Castro Verde
Constância
Coruche
Cuba
Entroncamento
Estremoz
Ferreira do Alentejo
Ferreira do Zêzere
Fornos de Algodres
Fronteira
Góis
Lagoa
Lagos
Mação
Mangualde
Mêda
Melgaço
Monchique
Mora
Moura
Nazaré
Oleiros
Olhão
Oliveira de Frades
Ourique
Pampilhosa da Serra
Paredes de Coura
Pedrógão Grande
Penalva do Castelo
Ponte de Sor
Portel
Proença-a-Nova
Redondo
Santiago do Cacém
São Brás de Alportel
Sardoal
Sertã
Silves
Sines
Sousel
Tábua
Tavira
Tomar
Viana do Alentejo
Vidigueira
Vila de Rei
Vila do Bispo
Vila Nova da Barquinha
Vila Nova de Cerveira
Vila Nova de Foz Côa
Vila Nova de Paiva
Vila Nova de Poiares
Vila Real de Santo António
Vila Viçosa
High risk (240–480 cases/100,000 in a fortnight)
Abrantes
Alandroal
Alcácer do Sal
Alcanena
Alcochete
Alijó
Amadora
Arruda dos Vinhos
Aveiro
Batalha
Belmonte
Cabeceiras de Basto
Caldas da Rainha
Campo Maior
Cantanhede
Carregal do Sal
Cartaxo
Cascais
Castanheira de Pêra
Castelo de Paiva
Castro Daire
Celorico da Beira
Celorico de Basto
Coimbra
Condeixa-a-Nova
Covilhã
Elvas
Faro
Figueira da Foz
Fundão
Golegã
Gouveia
Leiria
Loulé
Loures
Lourinhã
Lousã
Macedo de Cavaleiros
Mafra
Manteigas
Marinha Grande
Mira
Mirandela
Mogadouro
Moimenta da Beira
Montemor-o-Velho
Nisa
Óbidos
Odemira
Odivelas
Oeiras
Oliveira do Bairro
Ourém
Palmela
Penedono
Penela
Peniche
Pombal
Portimão
Reguengos de Monsaraz
Ribeira de Pena
Rio Maior
Sabrosa
Salvaterra de Magos
Santa Comba Dão
Santarém
São João da Pesqueira
São Pedro do Sul
Sátão
Seixal
Sesimbra
Setúbal
Sever do Vouga
Sintra
Sobral de Monte Agraço
Soure
Tarouca
Tondela
Torres Novas
Torres Vedras
Trancoso
Vagos
Vale de Cambra
Valença
Vendas Novas
Viana do Castelo
Vila Flor
Vila Franca de Xira
Vila Velha de Ródão
Vinhais
Vizela
Vouzela
Very high risk (480–960 cases/100,000 in a fortnight)
Águeda
Albergaria-a-Velha
Alenquer
Alfândega da Fé
Almada
Almeida
Amarante
Amares
Anadia
Ansião
Arouca
Azambuja
Baião
Barreiro
Boticas
Braga
Caminha
Castelo Branco
Chamusca
Cinfães
Espinho
Estarreja
Évora
Fafe
Felgueiras
Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo
Figueiró dos Vinhos
Freixo de Espada à Cinta
Gondomar
Grândola
Guarda
Idanha-a-Nova
Ílhavo
Lamego
Lisboa
Lousada
Maia
Marco de Canaveses
Matosinhos
Mealhada
Mértola
Mesão Frio
Miranda do Corvo
Miranda do Douro
Moita
Monção
Montalegre
Montemor-o-Novo
Montijo
Murça
Murtosa
Nelas
Oliveira do Hospital
Ovar
Paços de Ferreira
Paredes
Penacova
Penafiel
Peso da Régua
Ponte da Barca
Ponte de Lima
Portalegre
Porto
Porto de Mós
Resende
Sabugal
Santa Maria da Feira
Santo Tirso
São João da Madeira
Seia
Sernancelhe
Serpa
Terras de Bouro
Torre de Moncorvo
Valongo
Vila Nova de Gaia
Vila Real
Vila Verde
Viseu
Extreme risk (>960 cases/100,000 in a fortnight)
Aguiar da Beira
Alter do Chão
Armamar
Barcelos
Bragança
Castelo de Vide
Chaves
Crato
Esposende
Gavião
Guimarães
Marvão
Mondim de Basto
Monforte
Mortágua
Mourão
Oliveira de Azeméis
Penamacor
Pinhel
Póvoa de Lanhoso
Póvoa de Varzim
Santa Marta de Penaguião
Tabuaço
Trofa
Valpaços
Vieira do Minho
Vila do Conde
Vila Nova de Famalicão
Vila Pouca de Aguiar
Vimioso