What we do and don’t know about changes in May
English language coronavirus news in Portugal on April 24, 2020.
The numbers are looking pretty stable again. The 444 new confirmed cases are again on the low side of what we’ve been seeing, but not by a lot. And the 34 new deaths are on the high side, but also not by a lot.
What we do and don’t know about what’s changing in May
I (obviously) haven’t been out on the street chatting to people, but from what I can tell the main questions people have are about what rules change in May. The short answer, in a lot of cases, is that we don’t know. But Público has put together a handy list of what we know already and what’s likely on the way. The third state of emergency period ends at the end of May 2 but could still be renewed. The Prime Minister and President have both spoken of a slow and gradual reopening of the economy, while the National Association of Public Health Doctors wants the state of emergency to stay in place.
Bear in mind that the state of emergency is not directly controlling all the lockdown measures. In many cases it’s about giving the government the ability to take certain measures if needed. Prime Minister António Costa described that well today when he said, according to Diário de Notícias: “The end of the state of emergency is not the end of confinement”. He discussed a gradual freeing of the economy, with different sectors re-opening (with restrictions) every 15 days. That will be discussed at the April 30 Council of Ministers, assuming the state of emergency is not renewed, DN says.
Small shops will be the first to reopen and hairdressers and barbers will also return, according to Público. But they’ll be subject to limited capacity and you’ll need to make an appointment and wear a mask. It’s not mentioned but I guess that means beard trims are off the table.
Workers should keep working from home if possible, and if not, companies should try to arrange schedules to avoid everyone being in the office at the same time. Public transport, which will have to be sanitised regularly, are also in talks about new schedules to avoid peak hours.
Photo: Jorge Branco
In terms of education, there are too many different plans for different age groups for me to list them all here so you should check with your child’s facility or try to Google Translate the Público round-up. Briefly, there’s the “ambition” to reopen creches (but nothing more detailed) and schools will stay shut until the end of the school year, with some exceptions for years 11 and 12. Exams have been delayed and Universities can begin to prepare to return to classes from May 4, with a long list of restrictions. But several universities say they won’t have in-person classes until the end of the school year, except for those with practical elements like lab work.
As far as restaurants and similar establishments, things are very much still under discussion. The hotel and restaurant association met with the government this week to talk about possible reopenings. Beyond the obvious need for a clear set of rules, ideas included checking body temperatures and a “distinctive seal” to indicate the following of rules, Diário de Notícias reports. Tourism Portugal has already created a “clean & safe” seal for the industry, Público reports.
Image: Tourism Portugal
Ban on leaving your council area during May 1 long weekend
The Prime Minister today announced a prohibition on leaving your council area - just like over Easter - between May 1 and 3, Diário de Notícias reports. You’ll note that some of that ban falls outside of the current state of emergency period. “Every time we win in containment, we are winning in fighting COVID-19,” Mr Costa said.
In brief
Data Protection Commission says companies can't measure employees' temperatures
Infected people complain about local authorities disclosing their information
On a lighter note
It’s Friday, so why not? Here’s a cocktail recipe from the lady behind one of Lisbon’s finest bars, as told to Diário de Notícias’ Ócio section. It’s called the Antivirus but I hope I don’t have to tell you it is absolutely in no way effective against the virus this newsletter was created to talk about. It’s an easy one too. All you’ll need is gin, lemon juice, a teaspoon of sugar and some red fruits tea. Click through to watch Constança Cordeiro from Toca da Raposa make the drink. The video is in Portuguese, but you can use Google Translate for the recipe.
Have a great weekend. See you Monday.