New restrictions in force from Wednesday
A short update on January 19, 2021.
Hi again, those new restrictions I warned you about this morning come into force from midnight on Wednesday, which I realise is less than an hour away. I’ll paste yesterday’s newsletter below to make things easier. There are some brief snippets of other important news at the bottom.
By the numbers
Today is a new record for deaths, with 218 covid-19 patients passing away. The number of new confirmed cases has also climbed back up beyond 10,000, where it has been for the past week, except Monday.
New restrictions in force from Wednesday
New restrictions kicking in from midnight (00h00) on wednesday include the return of the local travel ban on weekends, restricted trading hours and a ban on buying drinks at the door of restaurants and other food businesses, Público reports. The final wording is not yet decided but it will be published in the Diary of the Republic straight after the President’s approval and enter into force the next day. Prime Minister António Costa has declined to shut schools amidst growing opposition but has promised more enforcement efforts from authorities to ensure people are complying with the lockdown.
Here are the 11 new rules, as per Diário de Notícias:
You will no longer be able to leave your council area on weekends.
All establishments will be forced to shut at 8pm on working days and 1pm on weekends, except food retailers, which can open until 5pm on weekends.
No sales or collections at the door of any non-food business, such as clothing stores.
The same restriction is in place for all drinks, including coffee, at restaurants, cafes and other food-based businesses.
You won’t be able to eat any takeaway food you buy outside or near the business you bought it from.
All restaurants within shopping centres will be shut, even for takeaway.
Sales campaigns and promotions that encourage leaving the house will be banned.
Hanging out in public leisure spaces such as parks will be banned but you can still pass through.
Mayors will be asked to limit access to areas where a lot of people can gather, such as waterfronts, and signal that park benches, playgrounds and sports facilities are off limits.
All workers who have to work in person will need proof from their employer. All businesses with more than 250 workers will have to send a list of such workers to the work conditions authority within 48 hours.
Senior Universities (adult education for those over 50) and day centres must shut.
Of course, existing restrictions such as the civic duty to stay home and mandatory working from home continue. Reasons to leave the house are to buy essential goods and services, use public services, work (if telework is impossible), receive healthcare or veterinary care, assist vulnerable people, go to school or university, fulfil parental responsibilities, participate in the presidential elections, exercise, walk your pet/s and get some fresh air, which should be quick and near your house. The Prime Minister has repeatedly stressed that staying home is the “rule” and urged people not to hunt for exceptions.
In other news
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa says the closure of at least some schools could serve as a political signal of the seriousness of the situation, Público reports. However, he says it’s necessary to wait until the next Infarmed meeting of experts and politicians on Tuesday to decide, noting the decision was not settled in the previous edition. A slim majority (54%) of Portuguese surveyed in a Universidade Católica/Público/RTP poll between January 11 and 14 would agree with such a closure, with 38% in opposition, Público reports. Prime Minister António Costa has assumed responsibility for the relaxation of rules over Christmas that appears to have contributed to the situation we’re in today, Público reports. Asked in a parliamentary debate whether he would have followed the same path “knowing what we know today”, he said “none of us would have ever supported those measures”. Health Minister Marta Temido finished the debate with a dramatic appeal. “The coming days will be very hard,” she said. “Please help us all.”