New reopening plan: No curfew // 2am closing times // Nightclubs in October // Mask changes next month
A major Portuguese news update in English on Friday, July 30, 2021.
By the numbers
Things appear to be heading in the right direction, with case numbers falling for about a week now. Deaths are still increasing slowly, as with hospitalisations and the number of people in intensive care. But that should be down to the normal lag we see in the data reflecting the time it takes people to get sick, end up in hospital and, increasingly rarely, die. Having said that, Saturday (20 deaths) was the most deadly day since March and Portugal currently has the second most per capita in the EU, after Cyprus.
The new reopening plan
The government has outlined a new reopening plan that sees the curfew dropped this Sunday, slightly loosened mask rules in September and nightclubs back open in October, Público reports. The new three-step, countrywide plan replaces the current three-tier system and is based on vaccinations, not cases, risk or even dates, meaning (hopefully) a more predictable timetable. There’s also going to be a major focus on the EU Digital COVID Certificate, forcing unvaccinated people to test negative to COVID-19 to do many things. The new calendar comes with the hope of moving things along more quickly if we hit vaccination targets sooner but a warning that the government won’t hesitate to pause or reimpose restrictions if necessary. Here’s what is expected to change and when, based on those vaccination targets:
57% fully vaccinated (August 1)
No more curfew, but you still can’t drink in public
Restaurants, commerce, concerts etc can open until 2am (within their normal trading licence)
Restaurants limited to six per table inside and 10 per table outside
Cultural events at 66% capacity; weddings and baptisms at 50%
Working from home recommended but not mandatory
Nightclubs are still closed. Bars can open, but they have to follow the same rules as restaurants, Lusa reports
Sporting events with crowds and carnival rides can return according to specific health directorate regulations
70% fully vaccinated (September 5)
Masks no longer mandatory outdoors except in “gatherings”, the definition of which will be down to “good sense”. They’ll still be mandatory indoors
Cultural events, weddings and baptisms at 75% capacity
Public transport without occupancy limits
Restaurants with eight people per table inside and 15 outside
Visits to public services (Finanças, motor vehicle department etc) without appointments
85% vaccinated (October)
Bars and nightclubs open to anyone with digital certificate or negative test
Restaurants and events no longer have occupancy limits
Big parties and religious processions are allowed
You need a negative test or digital certificate to:
Visit tourist accommodation such as hotels, resorts and alojamento local (Airbnb, Booking.com etc)
Eat inside a restaurant on the weekend (from 7pm Friday) or public holidays
Join a group gym class
Visit a hot spring, spa, casino or bingo hall
Attend a wedding or baptism with more than 10 people
Travel by air or sea
Outdoor cultural, sporting and corporate events with more than 1000 people and indoors with more than 500
Children 12 years and up still need to show a negative test in these circumstances, but that may change.
The reaction
The plan, which was heavily informed by epidemiologists and other health specialists on Tuesday, has been generally well received by experts, Público reports. Some did suggest that the requirement to wear masks on the street could be dropped already and that the requirement to work from home could be kept. The reaction among bar and nightclub owners has been mixed, with some welcoming the chance to make money again through the increased hours but one labelling the delay in reopening a “death sentence”.
In brief
Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho, army officer who led Portugal’s ‘Carnation Revolution,’ dies at 84. Otelo was considered a hero to many Portuguese and Africans for uniting the army with the people to restore democracy and helping Portugal’s African colonies gain their independence. (Washington Post, in English)
Online vaccine booking open to all adults. You can also check how busy your local vaccine centre is, fill out the online form for people without an SNS number and find other information here
Free rapid COVID-19 tests at more than 400 pharmacies. Maximum of four tests per month. See the full list here (Lusa)
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On a lighter note
Porto’s newly renovated Mercado do Bolhão is set to reopen, finally, at the start of next year, Público reports. Renovations to the beautiful old building started in May 2018 and stallholders have been running their businesses out of a nearby temporary market ever since, throughout many delays and changes of plans. The place is absolutely overflowing with living history. Case in point: Ernestina Barros is 87 years old and has spent 70 of them in the market, where she raised her son and lived her best years. She says it “won’t be what it was” but that’s not a criticism. Fishmonger Sara Araújo is more definitive. “It looks like a castle,” she says.
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