After all, the bars will be able to reopen from Sunday, August 1st, as long as they comply with the same restaurant rules and do not have shows.
O prime minister had said yesterday, at the press conference, that "bars and nightclubs" would only reopen in October, but the statement from the Council of Ministers corrects this information, announcing that "bars and other non-spectacled drinking establishments may function, subject to the rules established for the catering sector and similar, as long as they observe the rules and guidelines in force and those specifically elaborated by the Directorate-General for Health».
In other words, the bars can be open until 2:00 in the morning, «with the exclusion of access to the public for new admissions from 01:00 am onwards». In addition, customers will have to present a digital certificate or negative test (on weekends and holidays), be seated and wear a mask whenever they get up or walk around the establishment, as happens in restaurants.
What remains closed until October, as António Costa announced yesterday, are the clubs. According to the statement from the Council of Ministers, "most of the facilities, establishments and equipment that were closed are reopened, with the exception of discotheques, dance or party halls or other similar places or facilities, and parades and popular festivities or demonstrations folklore or others of any kind».
However, AHRESP (Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Similar Services of Portugal) has already welcomed the «decision to restore the normal operating hours of restaurants and similar establishments (with the limit of 02:00), which is in line with the proposals that we have insistently made with the Government».
In the opposite direction, and with the month of August at the door, AHRESP stresses its “great concern for the maintenance of the closing of night entertainment establishments, which puts their survival at risk”.
"Given the pandemic situation and the means we currently have to control it, we believe it is possible to establish conditions for its reopening", so AHRESP states that "it will continue to intercede with the Government so that this situation can be reversed in the most as short a time as possible'.
here is the Communiqué from the Council of Ministers in full:
- the restrictions on circulation on the public road after 23 pm are eliminated;
- the current rules concerning sanitary and public health measures (in particular those relating to mandatory confinement, the use of masks or visors, the control of body temperature and the carrying out of tests) are maintained, as well as the applicable traffic measures. air, airports and land, sea and river borders;
- cultural shows in venues of a fixed nature now have a capacity of 66% of their respective capacity;
- most of the installations, establishments and equipment that were closed are reopened, with the exception of discotheques, dance or party halls or other similar places or installations, and of popular parades and festivities or folklore or other manifestations of any nature;
- bars and other non-spectacled beverage establishments, subject to the rules established for the catering sector and similar, as long as they comply with the rules and guidelines in force and those specifically elaborated by the General Directorate of Health;
- teleworking is now recommended throughout the national territory, whenever the functions in question allow it;
- restaurant and similar establishments or cultural and sporting facilities start to operate according to the time of the respective licensing, with the limit of 02:01, with public access being excluded for new admissions from XNUMX:XNUMX onwards;
- with regard to the number of people per table in restaurants, the rule of a maximum of 6 people per table inside or 10 people on the terraces will apply throughout the continental national territory;
- The rules in force in high and very high risk municipalities regarding the testing or presentation of a Digital Covid certificate for the purpose of serving meals inside restaurant establishments, on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, become applicable throughout the national territory, as well as on Fridays from 19:00;
- for access to gambling establishments, casinos, bingos or similar and to spas, spas or similar establishments, the rules for access to tourist establishments or local accommodation apply (presentation, by clients of COVID Digital Certificate or a test with a negative result);
- with regard to physical activity, the practice of physical activity outdoors and in gyms and gyms is now allowed throughout the mainland national territory, and for group classes it is necessary to present a COVID Digital Certificate or a test with a negative result.
- Restaurants, cafes and patisseries now have a maximum limit of eight people per group inside and 15 people per group on terraces;
- Citizen stores without prior appointment;
- Cultural shows in fixed nature venues with 75% capacity;
- Public transport without capacity;
- Family events (namely weddings and baptisms) now have a maximum limit of 75% of the capacity.
- Restaurants, cafes and patisseries with no maximum number of people per group, either indoors or on terraces;
- Establishments and equipment without capacity limits;
- Cultural shows with unlimited capacity
- Family events (namely weddings and baptisms) no longer have capacity limits;
- Bars and clubs reopen their usual activity upon presentation of the EU COVID Digital Certificate or a negative test result."
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