Breaking news: Greater Lisbon shut off from the rest of the country on weekends
A quick news update on Thursday, June 17, 2021
Hi folks, this is just a quick update to let you know what’s happening with greater Lisbon this weekend. I’ll be back with more on Sunday.
Lisbon Metropolitan Area closed off on weekends
As the situation steadily worsens in greater Lisbon, the government has decided to partially cut off the region and its almost 3 million residents from the rest of the country, Público reports. From 3pm on Friday until 6am on Monday, entering or leaving the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML) will be banned. It’s not clear how long this weekend travel restriction will remain in place but it’s expected to stay until the situation improves in the 18 councils that make up the region. Residents can still move from council to council within greater Lisbon but just won’t be allowed to leave the wider zone. Minister of State for the Presidency Mariana Vieira da Silva said the objective was not to stop infections within the metro area but to stop the high infection rate from spreading to other councils. There are expected to be exceptions, such as travelling for work, but it’s unclear what they are as yet. Police will be patrolling roads and major access points but it’s also unclear what penalties will exist for anyone caught entering or leaving.
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The councils in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area are: Lisbon, Oeiras, Cascais, Amadora, Odivelas, Sintra, Loures, Mafra and Vila Franca de Xira on the north side of the Tejo. On the south side, the AML suburbs are Almada, Seixal, Barreiro, Molta, Montijo, Alcochete, Sesimbra, Setubal and Palmela.
This is an important change for any Lisboetas so please share on Facebook, in real life or anywhere else you see people a bit confused by the latest news.