Government to study postponing reopening of Lisbon economy

Ricardo Batista Leite (Social Democratic Party), on Thursday, said that the government is to consider the possibility of postponing the implementation of some of the measures provided for under the third phase of lockdown easing in the Lisbon region.

“Epidemiological surveillance is of fundamental importance right now, as well as the possibility, for this region or at least for some municipalities, considering the delay of the measures planned for June 1 is something that has to be discussed and it was assumed by the government that this reflection will be done before the cabinet meeting tomorrow [Friday],” Leite said.

He was speaking to journalists at the end of another meeting about Covid-19 in Portugal, the seventh since the beginning of the pandemic in March, and said that some municipalities in this region are causing concern about the number of new cases.

Asked if this is a two-speed reopening of the country by regions, Leite replied that the government had said it would eventually consider a differentiated response for the Lisbon region, but was not adamant about that response.

This is the seventh meeting of its kind, with experts, the president, the government, party leaders and the social partners, at which data on the first two phases of deconfinement was presented and analysed, one day before the cabinet meeting to decide on the third phase of reopening, scheduled for June 1.