The announcement, made by the prime minister, included the news that eight municipalities will not be moving into the final stage of lockdown due to Covid rates in these areas, including Portimão in the Algarve which will remain in the first phase.

The advance in the easing of lockdown “applies to most of the continent's territory, it applies to 270 of the 278 counties on the continent", said António Costa.

The measures apply from Saturday, 1 May, in the context of the end of the state of emergency and the beginning of the state of calamity, in the context of the pandemic of covid-19, said the government official.

Of the eight counties prevented from proceeding to the fourth phase are Miranda do Douro, Paredes and Valongo, which remain in the third phase, Aljezur and Resende, who will retreat to the second phase, Carregal do Sal, which continues to be in the second phase and Portimão, which is still in the first stage, after retreating 15 days ago.

In addition to Portimão, the parishes of São Teotónio and Almograve, in the municipality of Odemira, are also placed in the sanitary fence due to the high incidence of cases of covid-19, especially among workers in the agricultural sector.

However, the rest of the parishes in this municipality in the district of Beja apply the rules provided for in the fourth phase of the easing of lockdown plan.

Among the 270 municipalities that advance to the fourth stage are Rio Maior and Moura, two of the four municipalities that had retreated to the first phase 15 days ago, because "they had a great recovery", said the Prime Minister, adding that five of the six municipalities that remained in the second level in the last fortnightly evaluation will now also move to the fourth phase: Alandroal, Albufeira, Figueira da Foz, Marinha Grande and Penela.

António Costa also said that there are 27 municipalities that must be alert, because they have a Covid-19 incidence rate higher than 120 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants.

These 27 counties are: Alijó, Alpiarça, Arganil, Batalha, Beja, Boticas, Cabeceiras de Baixo, Castelo de Paiva, Celorico de Basto, Cinfães, Coruche, Fafe, Figueiró dos Vinhos, Lagos, Lamego, Melgaço, Oliveira do Hospital, Paços de Ferreira, Penafiel, Peniche, Peso da Régua, Ponte da Barca, Póvoa de Lanhoso, Tábua, Tabuaço, Vidigueira and Vila Real de Santo António.

See below the restrictions in place for each of the phases:

First phase of the plan

The restrictions and measures foreseen in the first phase of the easing of lockdown plan will again be applied, starting on Saturday, in Portimão and in the parishes of São Teotónio and Almograve, in the municipality of Odemira.

The setback implies the closure of terraces, shops up to 200 square meters (m2) with a door to the street, gyms, museums, monuments, palaces, art galleries and the like.

There is a ban on fairs and non-food markets, as well as low-risk sports.

What is allowed?

- Trade at the door for takeaway;

- Hairdressing salons, manicures and similar, with prior appointment;

- Retail establishments for books and musical supports;

- Parks, gardens, green spaces and leisure spaces;

- Libraries and archives.

Second phase of the plan

The second phase of easing of lockdown applies to the municipalities of Aljezur, Resende and Carregal do Sal.

What is allowed?

- Operation of stores up to 200 m2 with a door to the street;

- Fairs and non-food markets (by municipal decision);

- Operation of terraces, with a maximum limitation of four people per table, until 10:30 pm on weekdays and until 1:00 pm on weekends;

- Practice of sports modalities considered to be of low risk;

- Outdoor physical activity for up to four people;

- Operation of gyms without group classes;

- Functioning of social facilities in the area of ​​disability.

Third phase of the plan

Miranda do Douro, Paredes and Valongo are the municipalities that remain in the third phase of the easing of lockdown.

What is allowed?

- Opening of all stores and shopping centres;

- Opening of restaurants, cafes and pasty shops (with a maximum of four people per table inside or 6 per table on terraces), until 22:30 on weekdays or 13:00 on weekends and holidays;

- Cinemas, theatres, auditoriums;

- Citizen stores with face-to-face service by appointment.

- Medium risk sports modalities;

- Outdoor physical activity for up to 6 people;

- Outdoor events with reduced capacity (five people per 100 m²);

- Weddings and baptisms with a 25% capacity.

Fourth phase of the plan

The fourth and final phase of the easing of lockdown will be applied to most of mainland Portugal, precisely 270 of the 278 municipalities.

What is allowed?

- Restaurants, cafes and pastries can operate, either during the week or on weekends, until 10:30 pm, with the limitation limited to a maximum of six people per table inside and 10 people per table on the terraces;

- Commerce in general can be open until 21:00 on weekdays and until 19:00 on weekends and holidays;

- Cultural shows start at 10:30 pm as the cut-off time;

- Practice of all sports is now allowed, as well as and for all outdoor physical activity;

- Gyms can work with group classes, observing the rules of safety and hygiene;

- Capacity for weddings and baptisms is now limited to 50% of the space.