The Government is expected to approve today new measures for the third of the four phases of the decontamination plan, which include the return of classroom classes in secondary and higher education and the reopening of restaurants, patisseries, shops and shopping centers.
The measurements will translate “a fair balance” between disconfinement and restrictions, or even suspension of the reopening process, in the areas most affected by Covid-19, declared the Minister of Internal Affairs, Eduardo Cabrita, in the debate on the extension of the state of emergency, on Wednesday, in parliament.
"Based on all the scientific information available up to the last moment, the Government will not fail to adopt a fair balance between the will and need for deconfinement and the absolute determination of restrictive measures or possible pause and suspension in the reopening process, wherever this is necessary”, said Eduardo Cabrita, predicting that there may be a differentiated treatment for the councils with a higher rate of transferability in the measures to be adopted in today's Council of Ministers.
The executive's deconfinement plan foresees four phases of reopening – two have already been carried out on March 15th and April 5th – the next will be on Monday, April 19th, and the last on May 3rd.
Measures can be revised if Portugal exceeds 120 new cases of infection with the new coronavirus per 100 inhabitants in 14 days, or if the transmission index (Rt) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus exceeds 1.
Next Monday, the return of classroom classes in secondary and higher education, the reopening of all stores and shopping centers, as well as cinemas, theaters, auditoriums and concert halls, is expected.
Restaurants, cafes and patisseries should also reopen, although with a maximum of four people at tables inside or six, per table, on terraces. They will be open until 22pm during the week or 00pm on weekends and holidays.
The Citizen's Shops should open with face-to-face service by appointment, medium-risk sports and outdoor physical activity for up to six people return, and gyms without group classes.
The plan also foresees the holding of outdoor events with reduced capacity and weddings and baptisms with 25% of the respective reception capacity.
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