The ban on driving between the 278 municipalities on the continent over the weekend has been applied successively since the New Year period, it has been an extended since 15 January, with the new general lockdown.

"It is forbidden to move outside the municipality of your home during the period between 8pm on Friday and 5am on Monday, without prejudice to the exceptions provided for", reads the Government regulation for the current emergency state. Before this new general lockdown , which came into force on 15 January, and since the New Year period, circulation between counties in the continent was prohibited between 11pm on Friday and 5am on Monday, "except for reasons of health, imperative urgency or other specifically foreseen".

According to the law that regulates the state of emergency decreed by the President of the Republic, there are a number of exceptions to the ban on movement between municipalities, including travel for the performance of professional functions (as attested by a statement issued by the employer or equivalent), by health reasons and to fulfill parental responsibilities. In addition to this restriction of movement between municipalities, mandatory lockdown remains in force, in which the main rule is to stay at home, the prohibition of sales or deliveries to the door at any establishment in the non-food business, the prohibition of sale or delivery to the door of any drink even in establishments authorised for take-away and the ban on staying in public leisure spaces (which can, however, be frequented).

Mandatory confinement at home provides for authorized trips to purchase essential goods and services, performance of professional activities and physical and sports activities outdoors, in the area of ??residence and of a short duration. All goods and services establishments open to the public must close at 8pm on weekdays and until 1pm on weekends and holidays, except the food retail, which can operate on weekends until 5pm.

On Thursday, at a press conference on the renewal of the state of emergency until 1 March, the Prime Minister, António Costa, assumed that the current level of lockdown will have to be maintained during the month of March, considering that this does not it is time to start “discussing total or partial misconceptions”, but to continue “with all determination” to do what has been done in recent weeks because the situation remains extremely serious. The current state of emergency, renewed for another 15 days, will extend until 11:59 pm on 1 March, applying the same lockdown rules.