Portugal has approved this Thursday a package of measures to tackle the fifth wave of COVID-19 that recovers the certificates and / or mandatory tests to access different establishments and tighten restrictions the first week of 2022 to contain infections after the Christmas holidays.
“We are better than most European countries, but we are not as good as we would like. That is why it is the right time to adopt new measures, “said the prime minister, António Costa, at a press conference after the council of ministers.
Portugal has registered a rise in infections and hospitalizations for a month and a half, in highs of several months, which has led the Executive to decree from December 1 the state of calamity -one step below the emergency- to be able to take more restrictive measures.
Among these measures, the use of digital certificate and negative tests to access certain services and establishments.
The digital certificate will be mandatory for restaurants, tourist accommodations, events with marked seating and gymswhile to visit residences and hospitals, access to large events or sports venues and discos and bars a negative test, also vaccinated.
Negative PCR to enter the country
The same will happen with entries to the country by air: the vaccination certificate will no longer be enough and a negative test will also be required.
The Government will toughen airline sanctions that allow people who do not comply with these rules to board, who will arrive at 20,000 euros per passenger or even the suspension of flight licenses in some cases.
“We found that, unfortunately, the aviation companies they have not fulfilled their obligation“said Costa, who pointed out that all passengers will be controlled systematically, and not randomly, at the airports, for which private security companies will be used.
At airports there will be a designated area to direct passengers who arrive without a test and the airlines will be responsible for the costs of food and accommodation if they test positive and have to remain confined. The telecommuting will become recommended whenever possible and mandatory masks in all enclosed spaces.
Containment week
The Portuguese Socialist Executive has also prepared a “contagion containment week” after the Christmas holidays to prevent family gatherings from causing an escalation in the spread of the virus, as happened the previous year.
Therefore, between the 2 and 9 January it will be mandatory to telework and the discos will close. The start of the school term, which was scheduled for the 3rd, is delayed until the 10th.
“We all want a safe Christmas and after that, we want to resume life safely“said the prime minister, who asked that during that week contacts outside the family universe be limited.
Portugal has notified this Thursday for the second consecutive day more than 3,000 infections, which are at a maximum of four months, and the incidence at 14 days stands at 251 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Reinforcement of vaccination
Costa recalled that, despite recent increases, Portugal is in a “much better” situation than a year ago, thanks to its high immunization rates. “Vaccination is worth it”he insisted.
The country has begun to inoculate booster doses to over 65 years, to the health and firefighters, those vaccinated with Janssen and those who only received one dose because they passed the coronavirus.
The prime minister has ensured that all those over 65 with a full schedule for more than five months and those over 50 who received the Janssen vaccine will have the booster dose before December 19.
It is expected that next week the National Vaccination Commission will rule on the immunization of children between 5 and 11 years old, and Portugal has already contracted with Pfizer several lots of pediatric vaccines. 300,000 doses will arrive on January 20 and another 462,000 in January.
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