The state of emergency in Portugal has already been extended for a further 15 days across the country until 17 April, however the government has imposed stricter regulations over the Easter period to deter anyone who may be considering meeting with family or friends over this time.
“We are going to adopt clearer measures so that people realize that during the Easter period they cannot really walk around and should stay in their permanent residence. I think we will have to tighten up a little, giving a clearer sign that it is not really time to move from one place to another”, declared the Prime Minister.
The new restrictions in place over Easter now state that citizens cannot travel outside their municipality of usual residence between 00.00 on 9 April and midnight on 13 April, “except for health reasons or other reasons of imperative urgency”.
The restriction does not apply to health professionals and other workers from health and social care institutions, civil protection agents, security forces and services, military and civilian personnel of the Armed Forces, inspectors of the Food and Economic Security Authority, holders of political offices, magistrates and leaders of the social partners, “provided that in the exercise of functions, as well as the performance of admitted professional activities”.
Any workers travelling to work during this time must circulate with “a declaration from the employer that certifies that they are in the performance of their professional activities”.
During this period all passenger airports in Portugal will also be closed except for state, cargo or humanitarian reasons.
“It is an extraordinary measure, with a view to preventing circulation from abroad to Portugal or from Portugal abroad,” declared Prime Minister António Costa at a press conference.
This measure, according to the Prime Minister, will not cover “cargo flights or flights of a humanitarian nature, as well as flights necessary for the repatriation of Portuguese displaced abroad, or even flights of State or of a military nature”.
The Prime Minister has signed an order to grant extra days off over the Easter period, to all workers who exercise public functions in the services of the direct administration of the State.
“Tolerance is granted to workers who exercise public functions in the services of the direct administration of the State and in public institutes, on the 9 and 13 of April”, reads the order signed by António Costa.
A government source told Lusa news agency that contrary to what had been common practice in previous years in relation to the Easter period, tolerance is now being given for the whole day of Thursday, 9 April and in addition, the tolerance will also cover the whole day of the Monday following Easter Sunday, the 13th, which was not the case before.
In the diploma, to justify these changes compared to previous years, it is stated
that “the declaration of the state of emergency was renewed by the decree of the President of the Republic” of 2 April"and that, in the context of its execution, the Government decided to especially limit circulation during the Easter period “.
The document added “the importance of adopting measures allow the reinforcement of home isolation and contribute to the lesser circulation of citizens in the referred period, namely civil servants”.
During the Easter period, police will also be stepping up patrols and carrying out more stops to ensure that those out on the roads are complying with the increased measures and are not travelling outside of their municipality for any other reason than those permitted by the state.
Full details regarding the state of emergency in Portugal are available on The Portugal News website, where there are also news updates on the situation in Portugal posted daily. Visit: www.theportugalnews.com