COVID-19 Policy – Associação Move.T+

You can download the PDF document in here.

Given the situation that we are having nowadays we need to consider several participation scenarios for our activities. However, as the world is opening borders again, a bit of extra consideration and organisation should not stop us from meeting in-person and safely participate in international projects.

Please, keep in mind that you need to be committed to invest extra time and effort to arrange your safe travel to the venue of the project and back home. Move.T+, as the hosting organisation, and your local sending organisations, will give all the support that is possible, but without your commitment and actions your participation will not be possible.

Before arrival to the venue of the training (in Guimarães, Portugal) you are obliged to follow the health and safety regulations of the traveling and testing for Covid-19 on your own expenses.

Move.T+ might ask the participants to take extra tests during the activity.

By the end of the activity, if participants want/need to get tested before departure, they may purchase quick tests in local Pharmacies, or perform PCR tests at local institutions, at their own cost. Move.T+ can assist in reaching out to those institutions.

Please note that, by law, in Portugal, at this moment, you are required to use a mask in public places where you cannot maintain the social distancing of 2 meters and inside any place. only Such masks shall also be purchased on participants own costs prior to enter to the country.

More information on such restrictions and measures can be found at:
https://www.visitportugal.com/en/content/covid-19-measures-implemented-portugal

Possible drafted scenarios

Although we tried to cover here some possible scenarios, please note that these are just some of the possible scenarios and measures will be adjusted to every situation accordingly. Additionally, please note that the National Agency will have the final word on financial matters after they evaluate each possible case individually (which can take more time than the usual travel reimbursement procedure).

Arrival to the training/exchange

Only participants who show no Covid-19 symptoms and have not been in contact with infected persons in the last 14 days can participate in the project. You will need to confirm this at arrival. If someone develops symptoms while at the activity, his/her participation will immediately stop, and he/she will stay isolated in a designated place. Please make sure you have appropriate health insurance coverage in case you need medical support. All the isolation costs must be paid and are the responsibility of the participant.

The project gets cancelled

If the project gets cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, then the participant is required to cancel their flights, buses and/or trains, and must ask for a possible monetary refund or voucher. If the participant receives a confirmation from the travel providers that they are not eligible for any refund (not even voucher), Move.T+ cannot guarantee the reimbursement of the tickets. Move.T+ will consult the NA for possible solutions for each specific case and Move.T+ does not guarantee the up-front reimbursement of any remaining amounts.

The project will be cancelled if:

● The Portuguese government evaluates the situation and restriction on a 2-week basis, depending on the weekly positive cases per capita in Portugal, and in each specific region;

● More than half participating countries declare travel restrictions that will make the participation impossible, or extremely complicated, difficult and costly;

● The majority of the facilitators and project team members from Move.T+ are not able to participate in the project due to Covid-19.

The flight/ bus/ train is canceled due to national travel restrictions

If the participant’s home country declares e.g. a state of emergency and closes the borders, the tickets will get automatically cancelled or the participant is required by law to cancel them on their own. In this case, the participant is entitled to a full refund for their ticket by the airlines, buses and/or trains. Move.T+ and its staff will not assist with claiming such refunds and it will be up to the participant to communicate with the companies.

The participant is infected by Covid-19 and cannot travel to the project

The reimbursement of the flight ticket is not guaranteed by Move.T+. If the tickets are already purchased, then the participant must communicate with the airline on its own and ask for a possible refund resulting from flight cancellation.

Special case (not guaranteed): If Move.T+ manages to find a new participant, who does not require to have their travel reimbursed (e.g. coming from neighbouring country), Move.T+ will consult the Austrian National agency for solutions. In this special case, Move.T+ must be provided with an official document, stating that the participant has positively been tested for Covid-19 and also a confirmation from the airlines, that no refund is possible. Both documents must be presented in English. Translation fees will not be reimbursed.

The participant is in forced quarantine and cannot travel to the project

The participant has to get tested for Covid-19 during the project

If the participant wishes to get tested for Covid-19 without having explicit symptoms, the participant shall have to pay for this medical test on its own. The EHIC card does not cover this medical test. It is up to the participant to try to find a travel insurance package that would cover this Covid-19 test.

If the participant shows relevant symptoms of Covid-19, a local Health authority will be contacted. If they recommend taking action (e.g. hospital transport where Covid-19 test will be performed), then the Covid-19 test should be for free using the EHIC card.

The average price in Portugal is approximately 25 Euros for the quick test made at a local institution, 5 Euros for a pharmacy self-made test and 60 Euros for PCR tests.

The participant is positively tested for Covid-19 during the project

If the participant gets infected by Covid-19 during the project (proved by a medical test), then the participant shall be transferred into a safe isolated room, either in the project venue or outside of it, or get hospitalized in Portugal. The required travel medical insurance is supposed to cover repatriation, in case it won’t be possible for the participant to return home via plane/bus/train. Move.T+ reimburses only the originally planned flight, the rest will be upon discussion and after consulting the NA.

At Move.T+ premises and activity venues

A mask and social distancing is required while we are inside any building or when we are too close to a person (less than 2 meters). We expect everyone to be mindful of other people’s boundaries, respect everyone’s needs around this subject and, of course, good personal hygiene is required. Move.T+ and the venues that we are going to use will follow all the rules that are in place from the Portuguese legislation concerning Covid-19 and the health suggestions of the health authorities.

This arrangement may not work for people who don’t want to follow many rules, so make sure that you are comfortable with these conditions before you confirm your participation.

Purchase of protective equipment

Move.T+ will prepare basic protective equipment for hygiene, disinfectants, thermometer, etc.. Every participant is also required to bring their own masks (which they must cover its cost on their own) in a sufficient amount.

In all scenarios, we kindly ask you to follow and respect the rules and recommendations declared by the Portuguese Government and by Move.T+ staff.