Portugal warns British tourists they face £100 fine if they break strict Covid beach rules

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After foreign holidays have been off the cards for quite some time, the Government’s traffic light travel system details what countries holidaymakers can jet off to. Portugal is one of the only tourist hotspots on the list, but the country warns over its strict safety rules that travellers must adhere to.

Portugal features on the Government’s “green” travel list due to its few coronavirus cases.

Britons who travel to “green” list countries will not have to quarantine upon returning into the UK, although they must have a negative Covid-19 test before departure.

With cases decreasing in the country, Portugal has said it is “delighted” to reopen for Britons to visit.

Advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) regularly updates its travel advice.

Its latest update details the rules that you must follow while visiting.

Travellers are required to wear face masks in public areas such as when on a promenade, in hospitality settings, when entering and exiting beaches as well as when using beach facilities.

These strict rules apply to anyone aged ten and over on the Portuguese mainland and over the age of five in Madeira and Porto Santo.

The FCDO said: “Exemptions from wearing a face covering differ in Portugal compared to the UK.

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“You may be exempt from using a face mask both indoors and out on medical grounds. You will have to show a declaration from your doctor as evidence that you have a health condition that prevents you from wearing a face covering.

“You should observe strict social distancing and limit the time you spend in common areas in enclosed spaces.”

The country is also urging people to stay away from over holidaymakers as well as asking people to maintain good hygiene and wash their hands regularly.

If rules are not adhered to, Britons could face a fine of £100.

Health authorities have also said that people’s temperatures may be taken on access to enclosed spaces.

Portuguese cabinet office minister Mariana Vieira da Silva recently shared the exact locations of where a face covering is required.

During a press conference, she said: “Just like last year, it is not necessary to wear a mask on the beach and it is necessary to wear a mask in the accesses to the beach, in the accesses to the cafes and restaurants, in the restaurants and in the bathrooms.

“These are the same rules that were in place a year ago.”

Health authorities have also said that people’s temperatures may be taken on access to enclosed spaces.

Portuguese cabinet office minister Mariana Vieira da Silva recently shared the exact locations of where a face covering is required.

During a press conference, she said: “Just like last year, it is not necessary to wear a mask on the beach and it is necessary to wear a mask in the accesses to the beach, in the accesses to the cafes and restaurants, in the restaurants and in the bathrooms.

“These are the same rules that were in place a year ago.”

Although countries on the “green” list mean holidaymakers can jet off for a well-needed break, experts are warning against foreign travel this year.

It comes after the detected Indian variant is thought to spread more rapidly than others.

One leading University of Oxford professor has said that foreign holidays are “not a good idea” and people should visit places like Cornwall and Bournemouth instead.

This was echoed by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who said people should not go to “amber” countries like Italy, Spain and Greece unless the visit was “absolutely necessary”.

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