“The land border is currently open (…). We have mobile control mechanisms that we will adopt with the necessary adaptations”, said Eduardo Cabrita.

The minister was asked about new measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic announced on Thursday by the prime minister, namely the control of land borders, where a negative test will be required for Covid-19, similarly to the borders at airports and ports.

Eduardo Cabrita underlined that "at this moment the option of closing land borders" is not being considered.

“What we are going to do is establish mechanisms for verifying health rules at the land border”, he said, stressing that they will “enhance inspection mechanisms”.

According to the government official, this inspection "will not be total" because this is only possible in the context of closing borders.

The minister specified that "mechanisms that make it possible to make all those who enter national territory by land are aware of the health rules that exist in Portugal" will be established.

The official also stated that Portugal is "establishing more demanding rules, namely the requirement of tests, at the external border of the European Union in relation to flights".

António Costa announced on Thursday, at the end of the Council of Ministers in which new measures to contain the pandemic were approved, new rules that require the presentation of a European Union digital certificate for all flights to mainland Portugal, with fines for airlines that do not comply with this requirement.

In practice, this means that, in order to board the plane, passengers will have to present "the EU COVID Digital Certificate in the form of a test certificate or proof of negative test (PCR or antigen) carried out within 48 hours prior to boarding time”.

These rules for entry into national territory by air apply "with the necessary adaptations, to land, sea and river borders", as stated in the statement from the Council of Ministers.

These rules take effect on December 1, the date on which the entire mainland territory moves into a state of calamity.