The spokesman for the National Republican Guard, Hélder Barros, told Lusa news agency that the GNR had “a pedagogical attitude” on this first day of mandatory mask or visor in public transport, adding that there was still “a huge lack of knowledge”.

The same official maintained that the goal of the GNR military was to ensure that no one entered public transport without masks or a visor, with 460 people being prevented across the country.

PSP had already said that it fined three people on 4 May and prevented 320 from travelling on public transport for not wearing a protective mask.

Speaking to Lusa, the spokesman for the Public Security Police, Nuno Carocha, stated that the policemen opted for a posture of awareness, information and pedagogy, as happened during the entire state of emergency, between 19 March and 2 May, due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Across the country, three documents were raised for people who “expressed their intention of not complying with the rules” and of wanting to enter public transport without masks or visors, added Nuno Carocha.

Public transport passengers who disregard the mandatory use of masks or visors, due to the covid-19 pandemic, incur a fine of between 120 and 350 Euros.

In addition to public transport, it is also mandatory from to wear a mask for “access or permanence in commercial and service spaces and establishments, in services and buildings serving the public and in educational establishments and day-care centres by teaching and non-teaching staff and by students over six years old”.