Lisbon, Apr 6 (IANS): Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has called for "a national effort by all to avoid setbacks" at the beginning of the second phase of the country's de-confinement program.

The head of state on Monday visited a school in Lisbon to celebrate the return of in-person classes for all students in Portugal, saying that it was a "historic day", reports Xinhua news agency

In addition to schools, shops with up to 200 square metres; restaurants with open-air service; fairs and markets without food; museums; monuments; palaces; and art galleries; were allowed to reopen to the public as of Monday.

"We are here, symbolically, to say that this is a joint effort, believing that it is an opening for the future," but that it will only be possible with "respect for public health rules daily and permanently", said the President.

"If it goes well when we get to May and then June, we will have already passed what is the de-confinement program," he said.