The Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, Berta Nunes, believes that Portugal will have fewer emigrants this Christmas due to restrictions and fear of contagion, but also due to the economic difficulties that many are going through as a result of the pandemic.
"Less people will come, this is the indication we have," said Berta Nunes in an interview with Lusa news agency, noting that this conviction is not, at all, an advice to emigrants and Portuguese communities not to spend this season in their homeland.
“The situation is worse. There are more restrictions in all countries, many more cases of infection, many more deaths, more hospitalizations, more people in intensive care and everyone is attentive, they listen to the news, they know the situation is worse, although at least in Portugal, we are no longer increasing the number of cases», he referred.
In relation to the summer, when fewer emigrants chose to spend their holidays in Portugal, the situation “is worse”, he said.
“Our expectation is that fewer people will come, which is perfectly understandable given the situation, primarily for the sake of protection. Only by reducing contacts and non-essential travel will we be able to contribute to reducing the number of cases and this certainly, when deciding on Christmas and the end of the year, should lead people to travel less, to have more restraint" .
Berta Nunes recognizes that people want to "be with their family", but at the same time, "they know that they must be protected".
The Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, a medical doctor, therefore advises people to have as few contacts as possible.
“It is clear that we are not telling our emigrants and our communities not to come to Portugal”, he clarified, adding: “If they do come, be well informed. You can consult the Communities Portal, with advice to travelers that we update whenever necessary, and they can contact the consulates or the Consular Emergency Line», whose numbers are 00351 21 792 97 14 and 00351 96 170 64 72.
Berta Nunes acknowledged that, in this situation, in which the rules are always changing, “it is difficult to plan, which makes people not want to come nor take risks”.
“Many people also do not want to put their family members at risk, especially if they are older, who are more at risk of infection with Covid-19. And there is also the financial issue that makes people not want to spend the money, which they may need later on».
The government official leaves "a message of hope" to the Portuguese communities that "have been very resilient in all these difficult phases."
“We even know that there are many people going through difficulties and solidarity is important, because the State alone will never respond to all needs and society must organize itself and show solidarity and our communities have given many examples of solidarity, which I welcome. I salute those who have organized themselves to help others in need. That's how it should be, regardless of the State's obligations,” he continued.
Berta Nunes puts hope in the effectiveness of the vaccine, as an “instrument that will be able to control this pandemic and allow an economic recovery”.
"We are hostages to this pandemic and the vaccine is a hope," he said, advocating caution until it can act, even if this means that many of the Portuguese villages will have fewer people this Christmas than in previous years and traders in these places will have more reasons to do so. accounts to life.
For the Christmas period, the Portuguese Government determined that movement between municipalities is allowed. Regarding circulation on public roads, and at night from 23 to 24, it is only allowed for those traveling.
On the 24th and 25th, circulation on public roads is allowed until 2:00 am the following day, and on the 26th, until 23:00 pm.
The restaurants will be open until 01:00 on the nights of 24th and 25th and on the 26th until 15:30 in very high and extreme risk municipalities.
On the 24th and 25th, the closing hours do not apply to cultural establishments.
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