"I started the day with a video conference with Chancellor Angela Merkel. We agreed that it is important to maintain contact and coordinate the European response in all dimensions of this crisis", writes the Prime Minister, in a post on his official social media account Twitter and Instagram.

The Prime Minister then went to the Council of Ministers, which takes place in the Palácio da Ajuda, to discuss social and economic support measures for the population affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, after having presented a first batch of measures on Thursday to implement the state of emergency.

The Council of Ministers has already approved part of the measures that materialize the execution of the decree of the President of the Republic that institutes a state of emergency since 00:00 on Thursday, including the creation of a crisis cabinet integrated by the ministers of State, Internal Administration, National Defense and Infrastructure.

Among the measures approved on Thursday we highlight the duty of "home isolation" for the general population, a "special duty of protection" for people "over 70 or with morbidities" and mandatory isolation only for patients with Covid-19 or who are under active surveillance.

In the latter case, if mandatory isolation is not fulfilled, patients will incur the "crime of disobedience", and the Government admits, if necessary, to also define a sanctioning framework to punish those who break the special duty of protection and withdrawal.

For economic activities, the Government defined as a rule that establishments with public services must close, with the exception of essential goods "for day-to-day life", and that the rest must remain open.

On the other hand, establishments linked to restaurants "must be closed in their public service", but the Government encourages them to remain in operation for home delivery and take-away services (collection at the store).