On 3 May Pedro Siza Vieira went to buy masks available in a commercial area to demonstrate what the new reality of the Portuguese will look like, which from now onwards have the mask as a new mandatory accessory in public spaces, such as commerce and transport.

“We currently have in Portugal a mask production capacity of more than one million per day and each time we will start producing more reusable masks, that is, masks that, instead of having to be used only once and throw away, they can be washed, maintaining their protective capacity”, he said.

The minister pointed out that the national industry has mobilized a lot to increase production and this should in the "near future lower prices" of this equipment, which will also contribute to the reduction of VAT to 6 percent, already approved by the Assembly of the Republic.

"At this moment, Portuguese companies not only produce for the national market, but they are also starting to produce for export and, therefore, I am convinced that, as we have more supply, the price will become more accessible", he added, when faced with current prices.

Siza Vieira pointed out that this export already takes place "essentially to European countries and still in relatively small quantities".

“The priority for Portuguese companies obviously continues to be supplying the national market, but, as we have the capacity to produce - and as you know Portugal is a major producer of textile and clothing products -, we will start exporting, because this will be a product that, in the near future, will be very necessary in Europe, in the United States, and we cannot be dependent only on China, which was traditionally the major producer of this type of equipment”, the official stressed.

The minister also referred to the mobilization of a group of industry producers to comply with quality and safety standards and specifications defined by Infarmed, which pass the certification of the Technological Centre of the Textile and Clothing Industry.

"At the moment we already have 135 pieces of equipment already certified and companies are starting to produce," he said, stressing: "the most important thing to have these pieces of equipment available at an affordable price is to increase production as much as possible".

Siza Vieira stressed that there are many channels for distributing these materials in addition to pharmacies, such as food distribution, supermarkets and vending machines, so that these goods are available as other products for regular and common use.

“What we are trying to ensure is that, when accessing schools, teaching staff, non-teaching staff and students have access to masks provided by the State. The same thing obviously happens to those who are employees who lack this type of protective equipment in their daily activities: health personnel from the security forces, etc”, Vieira said.

The general population, on the other hand, will have more equipment, or a clothing product available in supermarkets for daily use.

Regarding alcohol-based hygiene products, the minister stressed that also producers of alcoholic beverages and various types of disinfection materials have redirected their production towards these products.

"I think that, also for that reason, we will start to see this type of products not only in abundance but also at a more accessible price".