Mask use no longer mandatory

After two years of pandemic and with the population almost fully vaccinated, Portugal’s Council of Ministers decided on 21st April to end the obligation to wear a mask indoors, including in schools, but will maintain the requirement in public transport, hospitals and elderly care homes. 

According to the Portuguese Government, the requirement to wear masks indoors may be "subject to a new framework, continuing to ensure the proportionality of restrictive measures to the circumstances of the infection that may occur at any given time, regardless of the need for its future modeling, particularly depending on seasonality”.

There are however exceptions for public places with “vulnerable people”, such as hospitals, elderly care homes and densely packed environments, which are difficult to keep ventilated, namely public transports, as well as taxis and TVDE. In addition, Covid Digital Passes are no longer necessary, not even for hospital visits; COVID tests will be determined by the DGS (State Health Authority).

Although there is room for alleviating the restrictions, Portugal’s State of Alert was extended until 5th May. 

As a final note, Portugal’s Health Minister, Marta Temido, pointed out that “the pandemic is still not over: seasonally we may have to remodel measures” although the Government will “maintain the principle of proportionality”, which means it will remain guided by indicators that must be read according to the circumstances.