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“The lowest noise levels can be determined in decibels or in certain time periods, in residential buildings, so as not to disturb telecommuters.”
This is one of the novelties of the new presidential decree that establishes a fifteen-day state of emergency (from 00:00 on Monday, February 15 to 11:59 p.m. on March 1, also on Monday).
The decree of the President of the Republic (PR) also ends with the prohibition of the sale of books in supermarkets. “Limits may be established on the sale of certain products in establishments that remain open, with the exception of books and school supplies, which must remain available to students and citizens in general.“
Another novelty refers to the closure of schools. In the decree, the PR “orders” the government to define “a phased reopening plan [das escolas] based on objective criteria and respecting health plans“.
It also gives the government the possibility, in the border control rules, to define different rules for international students. In other words: the government can “establish different rules for certain categories of citizens, that is, for professional or educational reasons, such as Erasmus students”
This Wednesday, the President of the Republic continued -by videoconference- the round of hearings with the parliamentary parties that had begun on Tuesday.
“They are management rules, common sense and it seems to me that the Government should follow these rules. The methodology is fine and if it had always been done like this, Portugal would not have gotten where it did.”
Rui Rio endorsed the words of Carmo Gomes, epidemiologist and university professor, who wants the lack of definition to be decreed not “by eye” but associated with specific data, such as the virus transmission rate (the famous “R”).
In a press conference at the PSD headquarters in Lisbon after the meeting with the PR, Rio considered that “continuing with the state of emergency is indisputable.” However, he added that it was imperative “to define the figures in which it is suspected – number of infected and value of R – and prepare now massive tests, preferably through saliva, if it is technically feasible.”
Rio argued that, as he heard Carmo Gomes in Tuesday’s Infarmed meeting, Portugal must follow “a management methodology” and define infected, contagious and positive lines of evidence that allow the country to know when to suspect. “They are management rules, common sense and it seems to me that the government should follow these rules (…) The methodology is fine and if it had always been done like this, Portugal would not have gotten where it did. Much more.”
As for the idea of postponing the municipalities until after October – an idea launched in an interview with DN by Pedro Santana Lopes – Rio promised that “in the next few days” he will speak his mind.
Who thinks that it is premature to speak of this postponement is the PS. “Although we are in February and taking care to renew the state of emergency for the next 15 days due to covid-19, we do not understand the reason why Rui Rio has his eyes set on September or October. Perhaps there is only one single explanation: Perhaps the leader of the largest opposition party will be afraid to confront his internal opposition when that time comes.”, The PS Undersecretary General, José Luís Carneiros, told the press after speaking with the PR.
According to him, the presidential elections “were marked by a great mobilization.” “A great mobilization in conditions of great limitation and at the most critical moment of the covid-19 pandemic itself. At no time during the pandemic economic and social crisis did we suspend democratic values. And local democracy is one of the most important achievements of 1976“he added.
The new decree that renews the state of emergency for another 15 days will be discussed and voted on in Parliament this Thursday afternoon. Another approval is assured, at least by the combination of favorable votes from PS, PSD and CDS. Then the Council of Ministers will meet to regulate the decree.
