Sunday is to mark a phased return to normal for Portugal as they prepare for an August influx of tourists.
While cases have been rising over the past few weeks, officials brought in some hefty restrictions to avoid a major surge - which included curfews for all businesses.
On weekdays bars and restaurants had a curfew of 10:30 pm, but on weekends had to be shut by 3:30 pm, encouraging some Irish holidaymakers to opt for different destinations this year.
Earlier this week there were hints of an easing, as the tourism industry gets set for an August boom, and officials confirmed late last night that Sunday will mark the beginning of a phased return to normal.
From August 1, localised curfews will end and restrictions on the opening times of restaurants, shops, and cultural venues will be eased, allowing them to stay open till 2 a.m.
However, a Digital Covid Cert proving vaccination, recovery. or a negative test will be needed to enter restaurants at weekends or on public holidays, when they are expected to be busy, as well as for gyms and events.
Then, from September - as the summer season winds to a close - face masks will no longer be mandatory outdoors and premises holding public events can increase the number of attendees to 75% of capacity, up from 65%.
Bars and discotheques which have been closed for the past 16 months, won’t be able to reopen until October.
While cases remain high in Portugal, their situation is similar to Ireland’s as more and more people are receiving the vaccine everyday, and hospital numbers are beginning to decrease.
Passengers headed to Portugal are reminded that they need the following documents to be allowed in:
- A completed Passenger Locator Form before they arrive in Portugal
- An EU Digital COVID Certificate proving vaccination, recovery, or negative test results - all vaccinated or recovered passengers are exempt from needing a negative PCR test
- A negative test result, if you have not received a vaccine or recently recovered - accepted tests are as follows: NAAT - Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (RT-PCR, NEAR, TMA, LAMP, HDA, CRISPR, SDA, etc), taken within 72 hours of travel
