Teleworking will be mandatory and day care centers, ATL, bars and clubs will have to close from 00:00 on the 25th, the prime minister has just announced. A negative test is also required to enter hotels, weddings, baptisms and large events, among others.
Following today's extraordinary Council of Ministers, Tuesday, 21 December, António Costa announced the new measures to face the prospect of an exponential increase in cases, due to the Ómicron variant.
Basically, the week of contention that had been announced on the 25th of November, scheduled for the first days of January, was anticipated.
António Costa also announced a reduction in the number of people in the stores, with the permanence being limited to one person for every 5 square meters, as well as the prohibition of gathering more than 10 people on New Year's Eve, on public roads, and the consumption of alcoholic beverages on the street.
Also with regard to the mandatory presentation of a negative test, it extends «to all cultural shows and all sports venues», as well as to enter restaurants, casinos and New Year's parties.
The Government also decided to increase the monthly number of Covid-19 tests funded by the State from four to six.
The decision to proceed with these measures was taken "after talking to the President of the Republic and consulting the parties with parliamentary seats, by telephone."
All these measures will run until at least 10 January.
António Costa also called for the population to be restrained at the festivities and for the avoidance of large gatherings, since this «still won't be the normal Christmas we all want».
Whenever possible, people should “air the house and have the windows open. It's a cold night, but the ventilation of closed spaces is of utmost importance to avoid the concentration of viruses and reduce the risk of contamination”.
The use of masks whenever possible, even indoors, during Christmas get-togethers, as well as testing before Christmas Eve and Christmas lunch are other recommendations of the Prime Minister.
State of play and new measures:
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