The Government had already announced the postponement of the start of the 2nd term, so that schools would be closed in the first week of the year, but, with students from pre-school to secondary on vacation since last Friday, the Council de Ministers decided today that the crèches and ATL, which would be open until the New Year, close earlier on the 25th.

“I think we've all learned, throughout this pandemic, that it's not a matter of believing, of being optimistic or pessimistic. It's a matter of being realistic and, with each step we take, seeing the situation we actually are in,” he said.

According to António Costa, the reassessment of the epidemiological situation in Portugal is scheduled for January 5 and only then will it be possible to see if the initial plan can be maintained.