COVID 19 | Portuguese Government announces gradual return to business

4 May 2020

Image: Jesús Formigo

Lisbon
Last update: 19:00 p.m. on the 30th of April 2020

The President of the Portuguese Republic announced this week that the State of Emergency, which has been enforced since the 18^th of March, will not be renewed and will end on the 2^nd of May. This decision indicates the Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s intention to allow the citizens to resume a relative level of normality following the critical point of the Covid-19 pandemic, although the Portuguese Head of State warned that the end of the State of Emergency doesn’t mean the end of the health crisis nor the end of the national plan against the new Coronavirus.

Following the President’s announcement, the national Government initiated talks with public institutes, associations, private companies, opposition parties and other stakeholders to start drafting a plan for the gradual return to business in Portugal, including transitional rules and regulations, different timeframes for reopening each sector and commercial locations, and adjustments to specific measures previously implemented to support companies and private citizens. Late on Wednesday, 29^th of April, Prime Minister António Costa met with the President of the Republic for a work dinner, to discuss the Government’s plan and align Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s expectations with the Council of Minister’s decisive discussion on Thursday, 30^th of April.

After the Council of Ministers meeting on Thursday, António Costa announced the Government’s plan in detail, explaining that the State of Emergency will be replaced by the State of public disaster on the 4^th of May, a framework that the Government has the power to approve by itself and allows a similar set of powers to impose limitations and draft laws to tackle the evolving pandemic. According to this plan, there will be three main phases -starting on May 4^th; May 18^th; and June 1^st-in the return to normality, with two weeks between each phase so the Government can reassess the evolution of the new Coronavirus and the behaviour of the Portuguese citizens and possibly implement changes in the original plan in case they are necessary.

The Prime Minister stated that due to “the Portuguese people’s effort and discipline”, the pandemic was mitigated, but warned that it hasn’t been overcome yet. “The risk remains high and the pandemic is still active. We must continue being active in this fight. The effort to reopen activities requires an extra effort”, said António Costa, enhancing that all citizens should remain confined as long as possible and announcing that the use of face masks is mandatory in public transport, commerce, schools and other closed sites where there is a high number of people. Also, the Prime Minister announced that before the beginning of Phase 1 of the plan, the Government will implement special rules between the 1^st of May Holiday and the end of Sunday, 3^rd of May, preventing Portuguese citizens from travelling outside their Council of residence, similarly to what happened on Easter weekend.

During the full month of May telework is mandatory for all companies and workers that can perform their activity under this working model.

Government plan for business normalization in portugal

Phase 1 – starting on 4^th of May

The first Monday of May will signal the beginning of the Government’s plan, allowing the smallest street retailers and service providers to reopen their physical stores or other spaces.

Companies are obligated to continue implementing remote work models whenever possible and schools will remain closed with the help of home-schooling in the National Public Television.

Physical stores located in the public street under 200 square meters will be allowed to serve customers in their premises.
Each store will have a maximum capacity of 5 people per 100 square meters
Libraries, hairdressers, car traders, and public archives will be allowed to open. Use of masks and protection gear is mandatory.
Mandatory use of masks in public transportation, schools and other public closed sites.
Maximum capacity of public transportation limited to two thirds.
Practice of individual outdoor sports will be allowed.

Phase 2 – starting on 18^th of May – Medium Sized Retailers and Service Providers

In the second phase of the plan, the Government will expand the number of retailers and service providers allowed to open their premises and serve the public directly.

Restaurants will be included in this phase of reopening, although they will have to comply with specific rules defined by Health Authorities.

In addition, kindergartens and high schools will also return to partial activity.

Physical stores located in the public street of over 200 square meters and under 400 square meters will be allowed to serve customers in their premises.
Each store or location will have a maximum capacity of 5 people per 100 square meters
Restaurants, snack-bars and similar sites will be allowed to open for direct service with half of their maximum capacity, in addition to the previously allowed take away service. Special protection rules will be implemented for workers and customers according to guidelines to be shared at a later date.
Museums, monuments, palaces, art galleries and similar spaces will be allowed to open. Use of masks and protection gear is mandatory when indoors.
Kindergartens will be allowed to open, but social aid to families who choose to keep children at home will be maintained. Use of masks and protection gear is mandatory.
High Schools will be allowed to conduct on-site classes with 11^th and 12^th grade students (16 to 18 years-old) in rotating schedules between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Phase 3 – 1^st of June – Large Retailers and Service providers, Shopping Centres

This will predictably be the final stage in the three-phase plan to gradually return to business in Portugal, and it may pose the biggest challenges due to the size of the retailers and service providers affected.

This phase will also include the reopening of pre-schools, primary schools and after-school recreation and study centres for students between the ages of six and 15.

This phase will also gradually remove teleworking obligations and allow for the return of professional football competitions and religious celebrations.

Physical stores located in the public streets of over 400 square meters.
Shopping Centres will be allowed to fully resume their activity, opening stores other than supermarkets, pharmacies and other first need activities.
Cinemas, theatres, auditoriums and similar spaces will be allowed to open, with marked seats, reduced capacity and physical distance.
Pre-schools, Primary schools and after-school recreation and study centres will be allowed to open and receive children. Use of masks and protection gear is mandatory.

The COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal continues to stabilize, and the growth in cases and the daily number of deaths has been slowing down in the past week. The most recent data points to a total of 25045 confirmed infections and 989 deaths caused by the new Coronavirus in Portugal so far.

Download the complete technical note here.