Portugal has updated its guidance on wearing face masks, with the UK Foreign Office urging holidaymakers to make sure they are aware of the rules in the country before they travel.
The popular destination previously dropped a number of its Covid restrictions earlier this year which meant that travellers no longer had to be vaccinated, take a test, or fill out a passenger locator form for entry to Portugal, Madeira and the Azores. Many rules on face masks were also dropped in the country at the end of August.
While face mask rules previously required people to wear a mask when travelling by air, on public transport, in taxis and private hires, these were scrapped a month ago. However, in new guidance the Portuguese health authority now ‘recommends’ that face masks are used in these settings, as well as at airports, railway stations and other transport hubs, the Liverpool Echo reports.
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While it is still not mandatory to wear one in these places, holidaymakers may wish to consider following the recommendation of the Portuguese government. You must still wear a face mask upon entry to medical facilities, retirement and nursing homes in the country.
The gov.uk website highlights that the rules in Madeira and the Azores are different to those of the mainland. In Madeira and Porto Santo, as well as wearing a face mask upon entry to medical facilities including pharmacies, you are also obligated to wear one up to the 10th day from the onset of Covid symptoms or a positive test result.
In the Azores, restrictive measures also include the need to use a face covering when you enter medical facilities, retirement and nursing homes. However, there is also the additional step that you must show a negative Covid test when you enter healthcare facilities - either a PCR test taken in the previous 72 hours or a rapid antigen test taken in the last 48 hours and certified by a healthcare professional.
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