The land borders between Portugal and Spain will remain closed after May 14th, announced the Minister of Internal Administration, without putting forward a date for reopening.
In the parliamentary committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees, where he was heard on Tuesday, Eduardo Cabrita said that the control of land borders will be extended "beyond the 14th of May".
“May 14, certainly not [reopening the borders]. I don't anticipate any date”, the minister said, stressing that he is “dependent on the success” of Portugal and Spain in the fight against Covid-19.
The control of land borders with Spain has been carried out since 23:00 on March 16 at nine crossing points authorized due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The operating border points are Valença-Tuy, Vila Verde da Raia-Verín, Quintanilha-San Vitero, Vilar Formoso-Fuentes de Oñoro, Monfortinho-Cilleros Thermal Springs, Marvão-Valencia de Alcântara, Caia-Badajoz, Vila Verde de Ficalho -Rosal de la Frontera and Vila Real de Santo António-Ayamonte.
Within the scope of border control, tourist and leisure travel between the two countries is prevented, and only the transport of goods and cross-border workers is permitted.
To the deputies, the Minister of Internal Administration maintained that "the lifting of borders must be done with great prudence" and "it will be done in absolute dialogue with the Spanish authorities".
Portugal has been in a state of calamity since Sunday due to the Covid-19 pandemic, after 45 days in a state of emergency, which ran from March 19th to May 2nd.
By mid-April, the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) had controlled a total of 11434 people at the border of the Guadiana International Bridge, in Castro Marim. At the Algarve border, 242 people had already been refused entry.
In addition, 74.432 citizens were controlled on the borders of Valença, Viana do Castelo, 4.915 in Quintanilha, Bragança, 23.335 in Vilar Formoso, Guarda, 5.317 in Termas de Monfortinho, Castelo Branco, 1.628 in Marvão, Portalegre, 19.725 in Caia, Elvas, and finally 6.624 in Vila Verde de Ficalho, Beja.
The refusals to enter had taken place in Valença (472), Caia (444), Castro Marim (242), Vilar Formoso (94), Vila Verde de Ficalho (99), Vila Verde da Raia (69), Quintanilha (44 ), Marvão (17) and Termas de Monfortinho (19).
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