Among the new measures that came into force is the compulsory night-time curfew in the 121 municipalities between 11pm and 5am. In these municipalities, over the next two weekends, there will also be restrictions on traffic on the public highway from 1pm to 5am.

In addition to these rules, other measures were already in place for these municipalities since the beginning of the month, such as the obligation to work from home, whenever functions permit.

The measures applied to the 121 municipalities affect 7.1 million people, corresponding to 70 percent of Portugal's population, given that the 121 municipalities include all the municipalities in the Lisbon and Porto metropolitan areas.

Mainland Portugal

Measures defined for mainland Portugal, with specific measures for the 121 municipalities with the highest risk of contagion from the new coronavirus, such as for shop opening hours, which take precedence over 'general' rules:

- Patients with Covid-19, those infected with SARS-CoV-2 and citizens for whom the health authority or other health professionals have determined active surveillance are placed in mandatory confinement, in a healthcare establishment, at their home or elsewhere defined by the health authorities.

- The sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in service areas or at petrol stations and, from 8pm, in retail outlets, including supermarkets and hypermarkets.

- The consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in open-air spaces and on public roads, except on esplanades. After 8pm, the consumption of alcoholic beverages on the esplanades can only be had as part of a meal.

- Private vehicles with a capacity of more than five seats can only circulate with two thirds of their capacity, except if all occupants are in the same household. Occupants must wear masks or visors.

- Commercial establishments have an indicative maximum capacity of 0.05 people per m2.

- Commercial establishments may not open before 10am, with the exception of hairdressers, barbers, beauty institutes, restaurants and the like, cafeterias, tea houses and the like, driving schools and vehicle technical inspection centres, as well as gyms and fitness centres.

- Most shops close between 8pm and 11pm, and the closing time, within this interval, as well as the opening hours, can be set by the mayors, with the favourable opinion of the local health authority and security forces.

- Restaurants must close at 1am (with new admissions until midnight) and their capacity is limited to 50 percent. Groups are limited to six people, except in establishments up to 300 metres from a school and in food-courts in shopping centres, where they are limited to four people.

- No gatherings, including celebrations and other events, of more than five people are permitted, unless they belong to the same household.

- Weddings and baptisms cannot be held with more than 50 people (unless the appointment has been made by 14 October 2020).

- Public services maintain a face-to-face service by appointment.

- In theatres and cinemas the seats occupied must have an empty place between the spectators who are not cohabitants. If there is a stage, a minimum distance of at least two metres between the stage and the front row of spectators must be guaranteed.

- In outdoor shows, seats must be identified in advance, with a physical distance between spectators of 1.5 metres and, if there is a stage, a minimum distance of at least two metres between the stage and the first row of spectators must be guaranteed;

- Academic celebrations in higher education are forbidden.

- Body temperature measurements can be taken by non-invasive means in controlling access to the workplace, public services or institutions, educational establishments and commercial, cultural or sporting spaces, means of transport, in residential structures, health establishments, prisons or educational centres.

Access to these places may be prevented if the person refuses to take a body temperature measurement or shows a result above 38°C. In cases where it is established that a worker cannot gain access to his place of work, the absence is considered justified.

- They may be subject to diagnostic tests for Covid-19 in access to health establishments, residential structures, educational establishments, professional establishments, prisons and in and out of national territory - by air or sea - and other places, by determination of the Directorate-General for Health.

- Possibility of requesting resources, means and health establishments from the private and social sectors, after an attempt to reach an agreement and with "just compensation".

- Mobilisation of human resources to strengthen screening capacity (such as epidemiological surveys, contact tracing, follow-up of people under active surveillance), namely workers from the Public Administration and local authorities, the social or cooperative sector, who are in prophylactic isolation, civil protection agents or teachers.

During the period in which the mobilisation of workers is maintained "the exercise of functions at a place and time other than the usual may be imposed".

- Participation of the Armed Forces in the carrying out of epidemiological enquiries and tracing of contacts of patients with Covid-19, this participation being coordinated by the respective command.

- It is up to the security forces and services to monitor compliance with the measures by "raising community awareness of the ban on unjustified travel".

- The security forces must make reports "for a crime of disobedience" for violation of the rules laid down, and lead citizens "to their homes when necessary" in cases of non-compliance with curfews.

121 high-risk counties

Specific measures for the 121 municipalities at higher risk of contagion by the new coronavirus:

- Civic duty to stay at home.

- Prohibition of movement on the public road between 11pm and 5am on weekdays and weekends from 1pm.

Exceptions to this measure are:

- Travel for the performance of a professional or similar function, as attest by a declaration issued by the employer or equivalent, issued by the employer himself, in the case of self-employed persons and entrepreneurs on behalf of the individual, or declaration of commitment of honor, in the case of workers in the agricultural, livestock and fisheries sectors.

- Travel, "without declaration", of health professionals and other workers of health and social support institutions, civil protection agents, security forces and services, military personnel, civilian personnel of the Armed Forces and inspectors of the Food and Economic Security Authority, holders of the organs of sovereignty, leaders of the social partners and political parties represented in the Assembly of the Republic , "ministers of worship", staff of diplomatic, consular and international organisations located in Portugal, provided they are related to the performance of an official function.

- Travel for health reasons, in particular for the purchase of products in pharmacies, or obtaining health care and transport of persons to whom such care should be administered.

- Trips to grocery stores and supermarkets and other food and hygiene outlets for people and animals.

- Emergency care trips for victims of domestic violence or trafficking of human beings, children and young people at risk.

- Travel for the care of vulnerable people, people with disabilities, children, parents, the elderly or dependents.

- Travel for "other imperative family reasons", such as the fulfillment of parental responsibilities sharing.

- Travel to veterinary emergencies.

- Travel necessary for the exercise of freedom of the press.

- Short-term pedestrian movements, for "enjoyment of the outdoors", unaccompanied or in the company of members of the same household.

- Short-term pedestrian trips for walking a pet.

- For other reasons of "greater force or unimpeachable need, provided that it is shown to be in deferred and duly justified".

- Return home from permitted travel.

- Closure of commercial establishments, even those in shopping centers, until 10pm, except restaurants, pharmacies, offices and clinics, funeral homes, car rental establishments, establishments located inside airports, motorway service areas and filling stations not integrated in motorways (exclusively for sale of fuels).

- Restaurants must close at 10:30pm (establishments that operate exclusively for home deliveries can close at 1am, but cannot provide alcoholic beverages).

- Cultural equipment should close at 10:30pm.

- The holding of fairs and markets must be authorised by the mayor.

- Teleworking is mandatory provided that the functions permit, the worker has the conditions to carry them out and essential services are not at stake.

The mandatory telework applies to companies that work in the 121 municipalities at "higher risk" of contagion by the new coronavirus and to workers who reside or work in those municipalities.

The worker, if he/she does not have technical or housing conditions, must inform the employer of the reasons for his/her impediment.

The worker retains his rights, in particular the right to receive the meal allowance.

If the employer understands that the conditions are not met, he/she must inform the worker, who, if he does not agree, may ask the Authority for Working Conditions to decide whether the requirements for telework are met.

The employer makes the necessary work and communication equipment for telework available, and the worker may consent to the use of his means, if it is not possible for the employer to make them available.

- It is mandatory to have differences in the hours of entry and exit in the workplaces for companies with workplaces with 50 or more workers, where the functions in question do not allow the adoption of telework.

These measures cover the municipalities of Alcácer do Sal, Alcochete, Alenquer, Alfândega da Fé, Alijó, Almada, Amadora, Amarante, Amares, Arouca, Arruda dos Vinhos, Aveiro, Azambuja, Baião, Barcelos, Barreiro, Batalha, Beja, Belmonte, Benavente, Borba, Braga, Bragança, Cabeceiras de Basto, Cadaval, Caminha, Cartaxo, Cascais, Castelo Branco, Castelo de Paiva, Celorico de Basto, Chamusca, Chaves, Cinfães, Constância, Covilhã, Espinho, Esposende, Estremoz, Fafe, Felgueiras, Figueira da Foz, Fornos de Algodres, Fundão, Gondomar, Guarda, Guimarães, Idanha-a-Nova, Lisboa, Loures, Lousada, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Mafra, Maia, Marco de Canaveses, Matosinhos, Mesão Frio, Mogadouro, Moimenta da Beira, Moita, Mondim de Basto, Montijo, Murça, Odivelas, Oeiras, Oliveira de Azeméis, Oliveira de Frades, Ovar, Paços de Ferreira, Palmela, Paredes de Coura, Paredes, Penacova, Penafiel, Peso da Régua, Pinhel, Ponte de Lima, Porto, Póvoa de Varzim, Póvoa do Lanhoso, Redondo, Ribeira da Pena, Rio Maior, Sabrosa, Santa Comba Dão, Santa Maria da Feira, Santa Marta de Penaguião, Santarém, Santo Tirso, São Brás de Alportel, São João da Madeira, São João da Pesqueira, Sardoal, Seixal, Sesimbra, Setúbal, Sever do Vouga, Sines, Sintra, Sobral de Monte Agraço, Tabuaço, Tondela, Trancoso, Trofa, Vale da Cambra, Valença, Valongo, Viana do Alentejo, Viana do Castelo, Vila do Conde, Vila Flor, Vila Franca de Xira, Vila Nova de Cerveira, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Vila Nova de Gaia, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Vila Real, Vila Velha de Ródão, Vila Verde, Vila Viçosa e Vizela.