Sports centres, gyms reopen in Portugal

Portugal is allowing movie theaters, shopping malls, gymnasiums and kindergartens to reopen from Monday, but the capital Lisbon isn’t seeing all those restrictions lifted because some hot spots of the new coronavirus have emerged there.

On Sunday, officials reported that the Lisbon metropolitan area represented 268 of the country’s 297 new daily infections.

Health authorities say they are stepping up controls in some of Lisbon’s low-income zones, and especially at construction sites and for temporary workers regarded as most at risk.

Gymnasiums and other facilities alike need to follow strict guidelines imposed by health authorities including at least three square metres between people practicing sports activities, no shower rooms allowed to function and masks mandatory expect when exercising.

Some clubs have incorporated further measures not mandatory like special mats to disinfect shoes and temperature checks upon arrival.

Lisbon shopping malls and mega stores must stay closed, and people can gather in groups of no more than 10 people, at least until a government review on June 4.

As of Monday, Portugal had 32,700 confirmed cases and 1,425 deaths from COVID-19.