The Government has extended the functions assigned to the Rear Support Structures (EAR), reinforcing its “response capacity in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic”, the Ministry of Internal Administration has just announced.
Via office published today in Diário da República, signed by the minister of Internal Administration, Labour, Solidarity and Social Security and Health, the EAR “can also be used, exceptionally, by people interned in hospitals due to clinical conditions not related to the SARS-CoV-2, with clinical discharge, but without the need for admission to a hospital or other health unit».
In the Algarve, there is already one of these Rear Support Structures in operation, at the Pestana Blue Alvor hotel (Portimão). In Alentejo, the EAR are located at the FFAA Reception Center at Base Aérea No. 11, in Beja, at a university residence, in Évora, and also at the Transfrontier Business Center, in Elvas (district of Portalegre).
This change reinforces what was already defined in Order No. 10942-A/2020, of 6 November 2020, which determined the creation of a national network of Rear Support Structures (EAR).
The note from the MAI explains that, «until now, the EAR were exclusively intended for the reception of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 and users of residential structures for the elderly (ERPI), infected with SARS-CoV-2, who need specific support, without the need for hospitalization».
The new order also determines that the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) bears, "whenever necessary, expenses related to food, electricity, heating, gas, water, telecommunications, laundry, cleaning and sanitation of the EAR facilities" .
In this context, ANEPC may now, in accordance with the needs defined by the respective technical coordination, "celebrate collaboration protocols with the entities holding the infrastructures where the EARs are installed, which may provide for the supply, by third parties, of these services".
The national network of rear support structures (EAR), which completes the network already constituted by the municipalities, already has 20 operational EARs. These have a maximum installed capacity for 2.069 users.
Of these 20 operational structures, 11 currently have users installed, totaling 144 users.
There are also 8 other structures in the installation phase, thus completing the network in the 18 districts of mainland Portugal.
In total, the network will have a maximum capacity that exceeds 2.300 beds.
The 20 EAR already operational are as follows:
– 1 EAR in the district of Aveiro: Vila Maior – Santa Maria da Feira;
– 1 EAR in the district of Beja: FFAA Reception Center – Air Base No. 11;
– 1 EAR in the district of Braga: Hotel João Paulo II;
– 1 EAR in the district of Bragança: Pousada de Juventude de Bragança;
– 1 EAR in Castelo Branco district: Castelo Branco Youth Hostel;
– 1 EAR in Évora district: University Residence;
– 1 EAR in the district of Faro: Hotel Unit in Alvor;
– 1 EAR in Guarda district: Guarda Apostolic Center;
– 1 EAR in the district of Leiria: Diocesan Seminary of Leiria;
– 1 EAR in the district of Portalegre: Cross-border Business Center – Elvas;
– 4 EAR in the district of Porto: Former Hospital de Paços de Ferreira; Monastery of Sta. Escolástica – Santo Tirso; Youth Hostel – Porto; Good Shepherd Seminary – Valongo;
– 1 EAR in the district of Santarém: Centro Francisco and Jacinta Marto – Fátima;
– 1 EAR in the district of Setúbal: Alfeite Naval Base (which works as EAR for the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon, also serving the district of Lisbon) – Almada;
– 1 EAR in the district of Viana do Castelo: Cultural Center of Viana do Castelo;
– 1 EAR in Vila Real district: Youth Hostel – Alijó;
– 2 EAR in the district of Viseu: Pavilhão do Fontelo – Viseu; Youth Hostel – São Pedro do Sul.
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