This Tuesday, the use of masks and visors is no longer mandatory in health establishments and services and in residential structures or shelters for the elderly and vulnerable populations, according to an ordinance published in Diário da República.
“Although the use of masks remains an important measure to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, especially in environments and populations at higher risk, it is considered appropriate to cease the mandatory use of masks and visors in establishments and services. health facilities and in residential or care facilities or home care services for vulnerable populationselderly people or people with disabilities, as well as in integrated continuous care units of the National Integrated Continuous Care Network”, says the diploma, which comes into force this Tuesday.
The Government justifies this decision with “the evolution of the epidemiological situation of the covid-19 disease, scientific knowledge, effectiveness and the high vaccination coverage achieved in Portugal, the level of knowledge acquired by the population about public health measures, namely the use of a mask , respiratory etiquette, ventilation of spaces and physical distancing”, which made it possible to reduce lethality and mortality, the incidence of the disease, the impact on health services and to resume economic and social activity.
According to the Government, Portugal is in line with other European countrieshaving already proceeded to eliminate most of the restrictive measures in response to the covid-19 disease pandemic.
On the day the diploma was approved by the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Health indicated that the recommendation for the use of masks remains, mainly in closed environments or crowds, by vulnerable people, such as those with chronic diseases or in a situation of reduced immunity, with increased risk for covid-19.
“The use of a mask must be adapted to the individual clinical situationnamely, situations of developmental or behavioral disorders, respiratory failure or other pathologies, subject to a case-by-case assessment by the attending physician”, then added a note from the ministry.
The diploma that “Determines the cessation of the mandatory use of masks and visors for accessing or staying in certain places, within the scope of the covid-19 disease pandemic” was approved by the Council of Ministers on April 6, having been promulgated in the last Friday by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and countersigned on Monday by the Prime Minister, António Costa.
Covid-19 caused more than 26,000 deaths in Portugal, resulting from more than 5.5 million cases of infection.
Covid-19 is an infectious respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, a type of virus detected three years ago in China and which quickly spread throughout the world, assuming several variants and subvariants, some more contagious than others.
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