José Apolinário, secretary of State and now also coordinator of the fight against Covid-19 in the Algarve region, visited yesterday the campus of the Piaget de Silves Institute, converted into a Population Support Zone (ZAP) at this stage of the pandemic.
The coordinator of the implementation of measures for the declaration of a state of emergency in the Algarve region was accompanied by the mayor of Silves, Rosa Palma, the director of the Piaget de Silves Institute, Nelson Sousa, and representatives of other entities that have been involved in this response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the county.
During the visit, the government official had the opportunity to tour the spaces that now allow to receive specific groups of the population at risk who need to be isolated, as well as to welcome and support, if necessary, elements of the Civil Protection forces and the National Health Service (SNS).
The local strategy for the local fight against the pandemic was explained by the mayor, highlighting the equipment and procedures that were put in place.
The Secretary of State recognized the good practices implemented and congratulated the entities involved, emphasizing that the government entities are attentive and available to continue to provide all the necessary support.
With academic activities suspended, the academic campus of Silves was equipped, in record time, with 50 beds, the result of the synergy of many entities and companies, public and private in the region. In case of need, there is the possibility of reinforcing more beds.
The transfer of the Piaget Institute's facilities follows the decision of the Algarve municipality to create three ZAPs, in order to allow a quick response in the event of a worsening of the pandemic.
The proximity of the campus to the Silves Health Center was a determining factor in its transformation into a kind of field hospital, with the advantage that everything was done to ensure some additional comfort for those who had to stay there.
The other two ZAP were installed in Pêra and Armação de Pêra, allowing, in the set of three zones, an extra offer of 180 beds to be made available to people at risk.
In recent weeks, students and graduates of the various degrees (Nursing, Physiotherapy and Osteopathy) that are taught at the School of Health on the Silves campus have volunteered to collaborate in the population assistance operations, if necessary.
On the eve of the visit to the Silves campus, José Apolinário had already gone to the ZAP installed in the Basic School 2.3 Dr. António Contreiras, in Armação de Pera, to deliver some protective material, such as masks and disinfectant gel, and clarify the local immigrant community about Covid-19.
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