The Council of Ministers decided on Thursday to keep in force all restrictions imposed in mainland Portugal over the last 15 days including the closure of non-essential trade, catering and the ban on movement between municipalities at the weekend. "We are in no position to relieve any restrictive measures that exist in any way," stated the Minister of State and the Presidency, Mariana Vieira da Silva, at the press conference held at the end of the Council of Ministers. Thus, the ban on movement between municipalities remains between 8pm on Friday and 5am on Monday for the next three weekends.

The general duty of remaining at home will also remain in force, in which "the rule is to stay at home", except for authorised trips, namely to purchase essential goods and services, performing professional activities when teleworking is not possible (which is mandatory whenever the functions in question allow it, without the agreement of the parties) and the practice of physical and sports activities outdoors, among others.

Mainland Portugal entered at midnight on 15 January in a new general confinement, with citizens subject to the duty of staying home, but maintaining schools with classroom teaching. The measure relating to educational establishments was later reversed and teaching activity was suspended on the 22nd, for two weeks.

This Thursday, the Government announced that from 8 February, school activities will resume on a non-face-to-face basis. The Council of Ministers approved on Thursday the decree that regulates the extension of the state of emergency decreed by the President of the Republic due to the covid-19 pandemic. The new state of emergency will be in effect between midnight on Sunday and 11:59 on 14 February.