“The decisions taken yesterday [Thursday] by the Council of Ministers provide for practically the total elimination of the measures that still exist and also fixed the moment when the few restrictions that will survive will disappear”, said António Costa.

Costa stressed: “These restrictions have been a way to free ourselves from the risk of contamination and the pandemic”.

The improvement of several indicators related to the Covid-19 pandemic led the Government to approve on Thursday the lifting of several restrictions, a relief from measures that it considered to be “another step towards a return to a normal life”.

Mainland Portugal will, from the outset, stop being in a situation of calamity and enter into a state of alert, the lowest level of response to disaster situations of the Basic Law of Civil Protection and which will be in force until March 7.

At the same time, the digital certificate will no longer be required for access to restaurants and hotel establishments, remaining only mandatory for border control.

Entry to bars and clubs is no longer subject to the requirement of a negative test, as is access to major events and sports venues.

A negative test for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus remains in place for visits to homes and health facilities, taking into account that they are groups of special vulnerability, as well as the use of a mask in indoor spaces.

It is also expected that high-risk contacts will no longer have to be in confinement, only people who test positive for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus will be in isolation.

The Council of Ministers also decided that teleworking is no longer recommended, with “normality” in effect with regard to work, and that commercial spaces no longer have limitations on the number of customers inside.

According to António Costa, the measures come into force after promulgation by the President of the Republic.