en 
"We are currently in conversation with many businessmen and many restaurants will close in protest", said Daniel Serra, without giving an exact number of restaurants that intend to close during the festive period, but guaranteeing that "several hundred" have already communicated their intention to the PRO.VAR - Promote and Innovate National Restoration association.
According to the official, taking into account the number of tests for Covid-19 that are being carried out daily, about 133,000, and given that it is mandatory to present a negative test to attend restaurants on the 24th, 25th, 30th and December 31st and January 1st, only three in every 100 Portuguese will be able to do so.
"It's an almost residual value, most Portuguese won't be able to", said the official, adding that for many entrepreneurs, opening their doors during the festive period will mean "losing money".
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I support their protest and don't go to restaurants until the test requirements are canceled. Сonstant testing is the wrong way
By SS from Porto on 22 Dec 2021, 17:50
I really feel sorry for all the ordinary honest and hard working Portuguese people, who I love, to have ended up in a before 1974 like situation....
By Matthias from Lisbon on 22 Dec 2021, 18:05
The words "shoot" and "foot" spring to mind!
By David Maconochie from Beiras on 22 Dec 2021, 18:19
Only the vey elderly, and those with serious illnesses should be afraid of covid.
However, EVERYONE should be afraid of the government.
By DD from Lisbon on 22 Dec 2021, 19:30
Maybe the population should simply all stop working for the next 8 days?
By Ian from Lisbon on 22 Dec 2021, 21:39
I stand by these restaurants; the government has done everything in its power to destroy small businesses over the last two years.
I am not able to support my local eateries during the festive season, which should be a time to join with friends and family.
I refuse to continue trading my freedom for the illusion of safety, and going forward I will not support businesses who capitulate to the latest whims of our technocratic overlords.
By Quentin Ferreira from Lisbon on 23 Dec 2021, 08:55
Obliging fully vaccinated citizens to produce a 48 hour test certificate is an excessive knee-jerk reaction that reinforces anti-vac logic. "why bother?" If you booked a hotel or restaurant for 31 Dec it is now impossible to get a test. A lot of businesses and families will lose money because of this. I presume they will remember come election time.
By Peter Kirby Higgs from Lisbon on 23 Dec 2021, 09:55
I support the restauraunts. Change will not occur unless the residents are willing to revolt and support the restauraunt industry.
By Darci Sarazin from Porto on 23 Dec 2021, 14:17
I have never read such utter drivel in some of these letters. !!!!!!!
By J from Lisbon on 23 Dec 2021, 17:16
And don’t forget a negative test today doesn’t mean you don’t have covid .. it can be negative during the incubation period of the infection..
By Mahesh C from Lisbon on 24 Dec 2021, 06:42
Shame on the Government they need to change or stand down and let some other take charge
By Miguel Da Costa from UK on 24 Dec 2021, 12:23
It's easy for the goverment to close down 1.000 of their bussiness or lock in 10 milion of their citizens. BUT, the bussiness owner rarely have more than one business and we do only have one life. We are entitled by law to choose what, why and how to handle the pandemic. None of the Goverments have shown any visdom, sustainability, trust or empathy. The only result will be more aversion of authorities. They have failed in all levels!
By Christina from Algarve on 24 Dec 2021, 15:08
DD. Don't you read the news? People, young ,with no underlying health conditions are dying. Highest cases are around Lisbon, not surprising with people that have such an ignorant attitude! Get real!!
By Pam from Algarve on 24 Dec 2021, 16:37
Too many uneducated google doctors from the UK and USA infiltrating this thread. Portugal should be careful. Any more of these types, they multiply like cockroaches and the next thing you know they're trying to overthrow government like the extremists they are.
By Elle from Porto on 25 Dec 2021, 11:50
VAXXERS vs skeptics, demonstrating the difference between education and intelligence. Thank you.
By Robert King from USA on 26 Dec 2021, 12:16