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The Government of Portugal decided today to advance the restrictions that it had planned for January before the advance of the fifth wave of covid infections and announced tougher measures for Christmas celebrations, such as the obligation to present a negative test to access restaurants.

"We are entering a particularly difficult period where people tend to get together," Prime Minister António Costa explained this Tuesday at a press conference, where he presented the measures that will mark the Christmas holidays of the Portuguese.

The contagion "containment week" that was scheduled for January 2 will be brought forward to December 25, when the closure of discos and bars and mandatory teleworking will come into effect.

In addition, the Socialist Executive decided to toughen the measures for Christmas celebrations and it

will be mandatory to present a negative test, even for those vaccinated, to enter restaurants and casinos on December 24, 25, 30 and 31 and January 1

.

On those days, the consumption of alcohol and organizing meetings of more than ten people will be prohibited on public roads.

A test will also be required at the end of the year parties, which will be maintained because "there was a set of initiatives already contracted" and canceling them would have a "brutal" economic impact.

On the other hand, as of December 25, the covid test with a negative result will be requested in hotels and tourist accommodation, weddings and baptisms, business events, cultural shows and sports venues.

The Portuguese Government will also reduce the capacity in shops, to avoid crowds the days after Christmas, when many gifts are exchanged.

These measures will be in force until January 9 and the Portuguese Government plans to review the possibility of extending them on January 5.

Costa also appealed to the Portuguese

to take a test before family reunions - the Government is expanding the coverage of free tests, which will go from 4 to 6 a month per citizen -

and to avoid encounters with many people.

"This is still not a normal Christmas," he insisted.

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