October 1, ‘Freedom Day’

  • 1 October, 21

October 1 has been given as the date Portugal relaxes pandemic restrictions on a massive scale. Gone will be most of the ‘obligations’ to conform to this or that rule as experts insist it’s time for “civilizational responsibility” – a scenario where individuals can evaluate risks for themselves.

The immediate changes will be seen in the hospitality sector. After 19 months in which bars and discos have been prevented from operating in any meaningful way, doors can finally be flung wide open.

Access will be restricted to those presenting Covid Digital Certificates (it is still not clear whether this includes the option to simply show a negative test, and it is highly likely that people will still be expected to wear masks, for example, on the dance floor).

Restaurants, cafés, ‘pastelarias’ will also finally be allowed to function with ‘no limits’ to the number of clients, either inside or on terraces.

By the end of this week, Portugal should have 85% of its citizens fully vaccinated – and this, insist the experts, has been the key to the country’s success.

Cre: Portugal Resident

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