Land borders with Spain remain open over the weekend

The Minister of Internal Administration, Eduardo Cabrita, said this Tuesday that the land borders with Spain will not be closed during the next weekend, when restrictions on movement between municipalities.

“What is contained in this Council of Ministers resolution that will come into force on Friday is that non-resident citizens should come to Portugal only and exclusively for this authorized circulation framework: work, health care, and study if necessary “, explained Eduardo Cabrita to journalists on the sidelines of the inauguration of the 41st station in Alta de Lisboa.

The Council of Ministers approved last Thursday a resolution that determines the prohibition of movement between different municipalities of the territory to prevent the spread of the covid-19, between midnight on October 30th and 6 am on November 3rd , but there are exceptions and the end of the ban was anticipated.

The resolution anticipates the end of the circulation ban to 6 am (it was until 11.59 pm on 3 November).

In early April, the Government decided to limit circulation in the Easter period due to the pandemic, at that time, citizens could not move outside the municipality of residence, “except for health reasons or other reasons of imperative urgency”.

One of the exceptions now to the resolution is the fact that people who work in the neighboring counties of the residence or in the Metropolitan Areas do not need a declaration from the employer, just a “declaration of honor”.

The prohibition does not apply “to travel for the purpose of professional or similar activities, provided that: a declaration is made, under honor, if the travel takes place between municipalities bordering the usual residence or in the same Metropolitan Area” or if they are “with a declaration from the employer”, if they work in a different location than the one where they live.

The restriction on travel between municipalities does not also apply to health professionals and other workers in health and social support institutions, as well as to teaching and non-teaching staff in school establishments, civil protection agents, security forces and services. , military, militarized and civilian personnel from the Armed Forces and inspectors from the Food and Economic Security Authority.

It also does not apply to travel by minors and their companions to school establishments, daycare centers and leisure activities, as well as to students traveling to higher education institutions or other school establishments.

It also does not apply to travel by users and their companions to Occupational Activity Centers and Day Centers and to the frequency of training and carrying out tests and examinations, as well as inspections.

According to the resolution, the restriction does not also apply to travel to participate in procedural acts with judicial entities or in acts within the competence of notaries, lawyers, solicitors, conservators and registry officers, as well as for assistance in public services, provided they are provided with proof of the respective schedule, the departure from mainland Portugal and the travel of non-resident citizens to places of proven permanence.

Travel to watch cultural shows is also exempt from limitations, if travel takes place between municipalities bordering the usual residence or in the same Metropolitan Area and provided that they have the respective ticket and return to their usual residence.

Thus, only workers who work outside the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto or do not work in a municipality bordering their housing need only have a declaration signed by the employer.