You may recall last November I had hoped we would be back in January but for one reason then another that plan didn’t quite come to fruition. There was then a vague idea of popping across in the spring, but that hasn’t happened either! And then there was COVID-19, which has scuppered everyone’s travel plans.
So we are now staying safe at home in England, and thinking of family and friends everywhere as we all come to terms with the crisis. Hopefully by the autumn things will have returned to normal, what ever that will be, and we will have returned to our beloved Portugal.
The main reason for posting today, apart from updating you on where we are, is to share with you a summary of the FCO advice for Portugal in light of coronavirus.
Portugal declared a state of emergency on 18 March, and everyone has been instructed to remain at home unless they need to carry out one of the following activities:
- to buy food or other essential items
- to go to work if unable to work from home
- to go to hospital or health centres
- to carry out caring or similar duties or in case of real need
- to return to their primary residence
- to exercise outdoors or walk pets, for short periods (ie not the walk below!) and never in groups
For the latest information, visit the Portuguese Ministry of Health website (available in English by clicking on the green globe symbol). If you are feeling unwell and need assistance, call the Ministry’s helplines on:
- Mainland Portugal: (+351) 808 24 24 24, press 5 for English.
- Madeira, call (+351) 800 24 24 20.
- Azores, call (+351) 808 24 60 24.
Stay safe everyone, and be kind. I hope to follow this post with another one in a few days, and maybe even share with you the full tale behind all these photographs. They were taken on a lovely walk we did on this day last year, I hope they bring a smile to your face.