The Response of National and Local Portuguese Government Authorities to COVID-19

Abstract

COVID-19 has caused in Portugal an enormous economic, financial, and social challenge that must be answered by the national and local Portuguese government authorities. Several support measures have been launched to protect businesses, economic sustainability, and employment levels. At the national level, projects with greater economic emphasis are highlighted, which aim to support companies and their workers. The most noteworthy are measures relegated to simplified lay-off, social protection for individuals in isolation or with illness, and support for the payment of basic expenses such as electricity, water, and gas. Also, on this level, measures concerning teleworking and school at home through television have changed the daily lives of families. At the local level, there was a greater emphasis on the social dimension. The role played by local authorities and local councils in stimulating the local business community and supporting the creation of volunteer banks, the delivery of food and medicines, and the production of goods for individual protection was highlighted.