This vote was identical to that of January 13, in which CDS-PP and PAN voted in favour of the state of emergency, alongside PS and PSD, after opting for abstention in previous votes, held in November, December and earlier this month.

This was the tenth diploma of the state of emergency that the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, submitted to parliament in the current context of the 19-covid pandemic.

The diploma, which applies to the period between 31 January and 14 February, prohibits or limits face-to-face classes in educational establishments including schools and universities, restricts international travel and mobilises retired health professionals, reservists or graduates abroad.

According to the Constitution, the head of state must listen to the Government and have authorisation from the Assembly of the Republic to decree a state of emergency, which cannot last more than fifteen days, without prejudice to possible renewals.

Eleven days ago, at the end of a visit to Santa Maria Hospital, in Lisbon, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced that the state of emergency could potentially extend to the end of his presidential term, which ends on 9 March.

The current state of emergency period ends at 23:59 on 30 January.

Under the state of emergency, the Government has imposed a general lockdown with people to stay at some except when it is essential to leave alongside the suspension of a series of activities, which have been in effect since 15 January. It also established restrictions on circulation on weekends and later the closure of all educational establishments, with effect from last Friday.

In Portugal, more than 11,000 patients have died with Covid-19 and so far more than 668,000 cases of infection with the new coronavirus have been reported since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the General Directorate of Health (DGS).