Lisbon lockdown tightening with fines on illegal gatherings
LISBON, June 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Portugal’s government has tightened the lockdown in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area in an effort to bring a series of coronavirus outbreaks under control.
From today the limit on outdoor gatherings is back down to 10, from the national maximum of 20.
All shops must close by 20:00 and restaurants may not serve alcohol after that hour, while drinking in all other public places is banned.
The measures were approved at an online cabinet meeting last night, after a meeting between the Prime Minister António Costa and Lisbon area mayors.
The government says the outbreaks can mostly be traced to particular workplaces or crowded neighbourhoods.
But police have also been called to a number of illegal parties in recent days, some of them very large.
Fines of up to 350 euros (£318) are to be introduced from Sunday for people taking part in illegal gatherings.
Official data indicate 1,534 covid-19-related deaths and 39,392 confirmed cases in Portugal since the beginning of the pandemic.
The region of Lisbon and the Tagus Valley registers 16,926 infections and 440 deaths, the Centre region 248 deaths and 4,005 confirmed cases, the Algarve 15 deaths and 529 infected people and the Alentejo two dead and 376 people with covid-19. — NNN-AGENCIES
