The corona situation in Portugal continues to develop positively: The country is one of the countries with the lowest number of new infections in Europe. Now the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has also removed the Algarve from the list of risk areas.
Corona situation in Portugal – overview
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News about the Corona situation in Portugal
According to the RKI, Portugal has no longer been considered a virus variant area since March 14. The regions of Alentejo, Centro, Norte, the autonomous region of Azores and now also the Algarve are no longer considered risk areas. The Federal Foreign Office (AA) no longer warns against traveling to these regions.
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The greater Lisbon area and the autonomous region of Madeira, however, remain classified as risk areas. Accordingly, the Federal Foreign Office advises against travel. However, it is to be expected that the greater Lisbon area will soon also be removed from the RKI’s list of risk areas. Here the incidences are stable below 50.
No more transport bans for Portugal
Since the RKI no longer classifies Portugal as a virus variant area, there has been no transport ban for the country since March 14.
Most recently, Portugal had a sharp decline in corona infection rates. According to TRAVELBOOK calculations, the 7-day incidence for Portugal is now 33.76, which is below the level for Germany. In January the value in Portugal was still more than 800, in some regions it even exceeded the threshold of 1000.
The number of active corona infections is also falling, currently 33,699 people are infected with the virus. In January the number was more than 180,000. The north, which is particularly badly affected over months, has a 7-day incidence of 25.43. On the archipelago of the Azores the value is 38.71 and in the popular holiday region Algarve it is 15.96.
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Also interesting: Portugal’s Secretary of State for Tourism: “From May, travel to our country should be possible again
The greater Lisbon area, which continues to be classified as a risk area by the RKI, continues to show declining incidences; the current value is 38.64. The Madeira archipelago has a 7-day incidence above the value of 50, namely currently 106.19 with a further downward trend.
On January 27, the previous pandemic peak was reported with 16,432 new infections. The country also recorded the highest number of deaths within one day on January 27th and again on January 30th with 303 deaths each time.
The health emergency is still in place in Portugal until March 31st
Portugal has been in a tough lockdown since January 15th. The health emergency is valid until March 31st. This so-called “estado de emergência” had already been proclaimed in the spring. Its consequences for citizens and vacationers are significant restrictions and obligations. It also enables the government to impose numerous other measures. These include the Possibility of mandatory measurement of body temperature, for example at work, in passenger transport, in educational institutions, shopping centers, sports and cultural institutions. There is also the Possibility to make corona tests mandatory and to request them (e.g. when entering and leaving the country, in health and educational institutions, nursing homes and prisons).
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In addition, the government can request the necessary resources from the private and social sectors for measures and activate certain groups of people to support them in tracking contacts. For example, teachers who are currently not used for teaching, or soldiers.
Portugal’s opening steps out of lockdown
On March 11, the government around Prime Minister António Costa presented its easing plans. In essence, however, the lockdown will remain in place until after Easter. The aim is to prevent family gatherings over the holidays. The lax approach around Christmas time was one of the reasons for the explosion in the number of infections in January. The relaxations apply subject to rising incidence figures.
Also interesting: “Portugal pays high price for Corona sledding course”
Since March 15th:
- Daycare centers and preschools are allowed to reopen and first graders can again take part in face-to-face classes
- The trade can offer door sales
- Bookstores, libraries, hairdressing salons, nail salons and car dealers are allowed to reopen
What will apply from April 5th in Portugal:
- Second and third grade pupils can take part in face-to-face classes
- Stores up to 200 square meters can reopen
- Permission for weekly markets and opening of art galleries with prior approval from the municipality
- Opening of museums
- Sports with a low risk of infection are again allowed in groups of up to four people
- Fitness studios are allowed to reopen, group courses are prohibited
What will apply in Portugal from April 19th:
- Higher grades are allowed to take part in face-to-face classes again and universities are allowed to reopen
- Opening of cinemas, theaters and event centers
- Shops and shopping centers are allowed to reopen
- Restaurants, cafés and pastry shops are allowed to reopen, but with only four or six guests (if there is an outdoor area) and a maximum of until 10 p.m. on weekdays or 1 p.m. on weekends
- Sports with a medium risk of infection are again allowed in groups of up to six people
What will apply from May 3rd in Portugal:
- With effect from May 3, the restrictions on opening times for restaurants, cafés and pastry shops will no longer apply. The limit on the number of guests increases to six or ten guests (if an outdoor area exists)
- Sport is again allowed outside and inside (fitness studios) without restrictions
- Larger indoor and outdoor events are again allowed with a limited number of participants
Furthermore, the following measures apply until Easter:
- There is also a general curfew, grocery purchases, pharmacy visits or other important errands (visits to the doctor, caring for relatives, etc.) are possible.
- On the weekend of 20./21. It is forbidden to leave the parish on March 26th and in the period from March 26th to April 5th
- The border with Spain will remain closed until after Easter
The corona infection situation in Portugal
The 7-day incidence in Portugal
There are currently a total of 33,699 active Covid-19 infections in Portugal. The 7-day incidence in Portugal by region at a glance according to TRAVELBOOK calculations:
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Also interesting: Corona risk areas – an overview of the regulations in Europe
The RKI classifies a country or region as a risk area in a two-stage process. “First of all, it is determined in which states / regions there were more than 50 newly infected people per 100,000 inhabitants in the last seven days,” says the RKI website. In a second step, qualitative criteria are used to determine whether countries / regions that nominally fall below the specified limit value are nevertheless at risk of increased risk of infection. Criteria are:
- Infection numbers
- Type of outbreak (locally limited or extensive)
- Test capacities and tests carried out per inhabitant
- measures taken to contain the infection process
- Reliability of the information
Also interesting: How the RKI defines corona risk areas
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Which applies to those returning from Portugal
Portugal is no longer a virus variant area from March 14th. The Foreign Office has issued a travel warning (see above for exceptions). Particularly strict regulations apply to people who have stayed in a virus variant or high-risk area in the ten days before entering Germany. According to the RKI, these include:
- Proof (medical certificate or test result) that there is no infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus upon entry. Test must not be older than 48 hours.
- Evidence must be presented to the carrier (train company, airline, etc.) for verification.
- The federal police can demand proof of the checks.
- Carriers can carry out tests in the absence of evidence.
In addition, travelers must digitally before entering the country Sign in and put themselves into a ten-day quarantine immediately after their arrival. The regulations of the federal states apply here.
Do I have to be in quarantine if I enter Portugal from Germany?
There is currently no quarantine requirement for holidaymakers from Germany when they visit mainland Portugal.
Since the end of January 2021, however, according to the Foreign Office, entry by land has only been possible “if proof of residence in Portugal (usually the” Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia “) can be proven or if it is a professional (cross-border commuter) or commercial purposes ”. The border officials decide on other exceptions.
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What applies when entering Portugal?
When entering from Germany by air, the airline must currently be presented with a negative PCR test prior to departure, which is no more than 72 hours old. Exception: children under two years of age.
In order to be able to ensure contact tracing, passengers arriving by air must use a “Passenger Locator” form to provide information on the destination and accessibility during their stay, among other things. In addition, body temperature is measured at the airport by infrared cameras. If this exceeds 38 degrees, travelers must expect further examinations and quarantine.
Different regulations apply to the Azores and Madeira: For example, a negative corona test that is not older than 72 hours is required upon entry. If you don’t have a test, you can do it on arrival and must remain in quarantine until the test result.
Corona insurance for travelers to Portugal
What does the insurance include?
Since Portugal is heavily dependent on tourism, the country now also offers travelers corona insurance for a fee – in cooperation with the company Bónus Seguros. The insurance takes effect in the event of “unforeseen events in connection with Covid-19” and enables reimbursements in the event of flight cancellations or interruptions, according to the Portuguese or English-language website of Portugal Travel Insurance. However, if you take a closer look at the services included, you will notice that they are kept quite general. For example, support in the event of luggage theft in Portugal is guaranteed – which has nothing to do with Covid-19.
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More relevant for holidaymakers are the services listed under “Full coverage in the event of unforeseen situations”. In the event of illness, the insurance offers cover for …
- … Medical and hospital costs in Portugal
- … costs for follow-up care in the event of a hospital stay
- … return travel costs in the event of illness or an accident
Also interesting: What do “Corona insurance” offer for travelers?
Corona insurance prices for Portugal
The cost of insurance depends on the length of stay in Portugal.
- up to 10 days: 37.20 euros per person
- 10 to 15 days: 43.20 euros per person
- 16 to 30 days: 48.20 euros per person
- 30 to 60 days: 65.20 euros per person
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