en 
The Council of Ministers has approved the resolution that extends the state of alert due to the Covid-19 pandemic until April 18, which means that the rules currently in force, which include the mandatory use of a mask in closed spaces, are maintained.
“The Council of Ministers approved today the resolution that extends the declaration of the alert situation, within the scope of the Covid-19 disease pandemic, until 23:59 pm on April 18, 2022. The resolution remains unchanged”, reads the statement.
Among the rules in force is the mandatory use of a mask in public indoor spaces, health services and transport. The obligation to test negative for SARS-CoV-2 remains for those who have not taken a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine during visits to homes and in hospitals and health centres.
The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) estimates that the use of a mask in closed places will no longer be mandatory as of April 3. However, experts and the chairman of the Ordem dos Médicos have argued that the decision is still not advisable at this stage, after, during the week between March 8 and 14, 78,464 new cases of infection and 123 deaths from Covid-19 were recorded.
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Português (Brasil)
It's time for Portugese to stand up to this lunacy. If masks worked then last week's numbers wouldn't be high! They seem to stupid to notice the world has moved on and recognise that making in public is ludicrous. Australia has totally stopped masks everywhere and cases dropped! This is only because portugese are compliant that the government makes silly rules stick.
By Jeffrey Jeffrey from Lisbon on 23 Mar 2022, 23:28
Well done keep up the good work your doing to protect visitors to your beautiful country
By Kenneth Dunn from UK on 24 Mar 2022, 07:55
It is long past time to drop the mask requirement outside of clinical settings. There has never been strong evidence that it does any good even during the peak of the pandemic. The repercussions of masks are long reaching and distressing for many including asthmatics, the hearing impaired, and children. Not to mention it is just plain silly for people to wear them outside on a sunny windy day. This mindless obsession with masks needs to stop. Wake up people.
By Sarah Draper from Lisbon on 24 Mar 2022, 10:47
I find the opinion of some Brits here, calling these rules "stupid", the epitome of Anglo-Saxon arrogance and imbecility.
It has been proven that wearing masks indoors greatly reduces the risk of transmissions. If anything, cases went up because of all the foreigners that came to Portugal and didn't respect the rules.
Your countries were completely ravaged by the coronavirus, precisely because you didn't respect the rules and continued to behave like you were entitled and the rules didn't apply to you.
Portugal should be proud to have given you a lesson on civility, something that you have lost now in a very long time.
By Edmund from Lisbon on 24 Mar 2022, 10:50
Jeffrey, when your intellectual skills are sub par, a good spell check is a really good investment. That’s a tip you get for free, you’re welcome.
Now, once you’ve mastered basic analytical skills maybe you can consider sharing your “opinions”. Until then, open a book and grow some grey matter. And if you’re that displeased with this country then go back to your own. Xoxo
By Allan from Algarve on 24 Mar 2022, 11:33
Portugal has done a great job at vaccinating the population. Masks are a pseudoscientific measure of questionable effectiveness. Hong Kong, China, South Korea - bastions of mask wearing have fared no better than other countries. It's time to move on.
By James from Algarve on 24 Mar 2022, 14:04
End the masks already . You wear them to a restaurant but take them off to sit down and eat. I question everyone's commin sense.
By Monica from Açores on 24 Mar 2022, 14:19
I am an immigrant who moved from Asia to the USA. The most important principal for all to remember is regardless of what we believe to be correct or scientific, immigrants from Anglo countries must remember to remain civil and respectful of the laws and the decisions made by their host countries. Anglos expect no less from immigrants in their countries so they should expect the same from themselves when they immigrate to other countries.
By Ivan from USA on 25 Mar 2022, 09:27
If you don’t like the rules you are free to leave or not visit. The vast majority of Portuguese have been happy to comply with the rules because they are sensible.
By Maurice from Lisbon on 25 Mar 2022, 12:16
Jeffrey Jeffrey… there’s lots of flights to other places if you don’t like it here. Australia is hardly a good comparison. It’s been in international isolation for nigh on 2 years and is a remote island with low population density. Much easier to manage Covid under this circumstances. Masks help reduce transmission, there’s far more to infection rates than mak wearing mandates.
By David from Lisbon on 25 Mar 2022, 13:10