The general secretary of the Portuguese Hotel, Restaurant and Similar Association (AHRESP) today classified as “catastrophic” the circulation restrictions announced today by the Government for the next two weekends, within the scope of the state of emergency.
“It is evident that these measures, essentially the measures applied to the next two weekends, are catastrophic for restoration and accommodation,” Ana Jacinto told Lusa, when asked to comment on circulation restrictions adopted for the 121 municipalities most affected by covid-19 pandemic.
The representative of the companies in the sector said that she had already received, from several entrepreneurs, “notes that the reservations they had were all canceled”, so the effects of restrictions are already being felt.
“We do not believe that the Government, if it had alternatives, would have chosen these options. So he considered that these options were crucial for us to be able to stop the pandemic ”, he said, calling for inversely proportional measures to support companies.
Thus, argues Ana Jacinto, “there is also a need for crucial, vital and robust measures for companies to hold on, because if it is not now, the State will have to bear these charges all tomorrow”, he stressed.
“We employ 400,000 direct jobs, that’s what we’re talking about, and people will be out of a job, because companies won’t be able to do for much longer what they’ve been doing, which is to be resilient and hold jobs. job. But they won’t be able to do it for much longer, ”said the head of the sector.
The Government approved on Saturday the measures of the state of emergency that will take effect between Monday and November 23, providing for the night curfew during the week in the 121 counties with the highest risk of contagion, where there is “high risk of transmission of covid- 19 ”, covering 70% of the resident population, including all municipalities in the Metropolitan Areas of Lisbon and Porto.
In these 121 counties, there is a duty to remain at home, shops must close until 22:00 and restaurants must close at 22:30, but mayors may set a closing time below the maximum limit established, with the favorable opinion of the local health authority and security forces.
The ban on driving on public roads is in effect between 11 pm and 5 am on weekdays and on weekends from 14 and 15 November and 21 and 22 November from 13:00.
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