Portugal’s Plan to Reopen Starts in 3 Days

Yesterday the Prime Minister moved the country from a State of Emergency to a State of Calamity. I wonder what the State would be called if the Prime Minister’s name was Jane? 🙂

Here’s what we’re in for, as quoted from a Portugal news site –

Local businesses open their doors on May 4

In this first phase, it will be allowed the reopening of some stores that were forced to close with the state of emergency, decreed for the first time on March 19 by the President of Portugal.

– Small businesses, namely stores up to 200 square meters;
– Hairdressers and beauticians, as well as barbershops;
– Bookstores;
– Individual sporting activities are allowed, although without the use of changing rooms;
– Universities may return, but are not obliged. Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra can continue to have distance learning and resume only practical classes.

From May 18 to 31. Reopening restaurants and football is back

The government had already said that after taking the first steps in reopening the economy, it would monitor the effects on public health every 15 days. Thus, and if the contagions by Covid-19 do not register a significant leap, two weeks later, on May 18, we could see more businesses to open doors, including restaurants, as well as the return of classes for the older ones.

This is what can open in the second phase:

– Commercial spaces of up to 400 square metres, although municipal councils will have a special prerogative that will give them the power to allow stores with larger areas to open.
– Cafes, pastries and restaurants, but with conditions. The reopening of these establishments will take place with half the capacity, in order to ensure social distancing within the space, according to Radio Renascença.
– Some cultural spaces and museums.
– The classes are back for students of the 11th and 12th grades.
– Day care centers, although the government keeps the state aid for parents who stay at home with their children. This state aid will be in place until the end of May.
– Football will be able to return without spectators in the stadiums. The Liga Nos can resume games on the weekend of May 30 and 31.

Finally, as the pandemic develops in a controlled way, there will be the opening of more commercial spaces, namely the large stores, where many people gather.

Thus, in the third and final phase of this reopening on June 1:

– Commercial spaces of over 400 square meters, including shopping malls;
– After kindergartens, the preschool will also reopen.
– The polytechnic institutes may be left for the end and with restrictions.
– Football will be able to return without spectators in the stadiums.
– The start of the bathing season should bring limitations on access to beaches.