The rules for accessing the beaches this summer, due to the covid-19, which were presented last week, are being discussed this week by the Ministry of the Environment and with all municipalities with a beach.
According to the Minister of Internal Administration, Eduardo Cabrita, these general rules approved by the Government last Friday are being discussed with all the municipalities that have beaches throughout this week, “because the general rules are known, but it is necessary to apply every beach ”.
“It is very different the 50 kilometers of sand from Troia to Sines of small beaches stuck between rocks”, said the minister, who took stock of the first fortnight of the calamity situation, decreed by the Government regarding the new coronavirus, which causes the disease Covid-19.
Questioned by the journalists, the minister began by mentioning that physical exercise is allowed, as well as the practice of individual sports, as long as they are done with respect for the distance rules.
With the bathing season opening on June 6, the minister was asked about which rules apply to anyone who wants to go to the beach now.
“Until then, sunbathing and fresh air is compatible with the rules of physical distance,” replied Eduardo Cabrita, stressing that it is up to the Portuguese to ensure respect for the rules of distance and to avoid “gatherings”, because if necessary the security forces ” fulfill their mission ”.
“What is scheduled for June 6 is the operation of beaches with concessioned bathing areas, subject to a set of rules presented last Friday, which are being discussed this week by the Ministry of the Environment with the participation of secretaries of State with regional coordination functions ”, and with municipalities with beaches, he explained.
He added: “It is necessary now, applying the same general rules, that these principles [de segurança] be accompanied and characterized municipality by municipality, beach by beach, and this work is being done this week ”.
Eduardo Cabrita also stressed that “the sun is beneficial for health”, that outdoor practices have different rules than indoor ones, and went on to say that the main recommendation that has been carried out “successfully”, has to do with the “capacity for self-discipline and self-regulation of the Portuguese”.
The rules approved last week include, among other measures, the physical distance of 1.5 meters between bathers (who are not part of the same group), the distance of three meters between parasols or the announcement of the state of occupation of the beaches .
Eduardo Cabrita’s statements were made at the end of a meeting of the Disaster Situation Monitoring Structure, which monitors the calamity situation and brings together representatives of the security forces and services and the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority, in addition to a dozen secretaries of state, being coordinated by the minister.
The first two weeks of the calamity situation, which followed the state of emergency, went “very positively”, the group concluded.
The covid-19 disease, caused by a new coronavirus, has already caused 1,247 deaths in Portugal, in a total of 29,432 people confirmed as infected, according to today’s report by the Directorate-General for Health (DGS).
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