Last Friday, Portugal reached a new maximum in daily testing, with 197.718 Covid-19 screening tests performed, with a positivity rate of 3,1%, today announced the 'task force' that coordinates the process.
Of the total tests performed, 141.768 (72%) are rapid antigen tests (TRAg) for professional use, according to the 'task force' in a statement to promote the Operationalization Plan for the Testing Strategy for SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal .
As of December 1st, more than 1,2 million Covid-19 tests have been performed, including more than 818 TRAg for professional use.
According to the task force, this value is related to the new measures resulting from the resolution of the Council of Ministers of 27 November, which includes the need to present a negative test for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes the Covid-19, in accessing certain services or locations, as well as increasing testing points across the country.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, 22.640.962 Covid-19 diagnostic tests have been carried out in Portugal, according to the 'task force', noting that these numbers do not include self-tests.
Regarding its typology, about 15,5 million tests were RT-PCR and 7,1 million TRAg for professional use.
The rapid antigen tests carried out in laboratories and pharmacies that adhere to the exceptional reimbursement scheme were once again free as of November 19, a measure that now covers the entire population (four free tests per month, for each user) and which it intends to reinforce the protection of public health and the control of the covid-19 pandemic, effective at least until 31 December.
According to the lists published on the website of the national drug authority (Infarmed), 866 pharmacies in the country and 271 clinical analysis laboratories have already adhered to the exceptional reimbursement scheme
The reactivation of the exceptional and temporary TRAg reimbursement scheme aims to contribute to the early detection and isolation of cases, to prevent and mitigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on health services and vulnerable populations, as well as to reduce and control the transmission of infection by SARS-CoV-2 and monitoring the epidemiological evolution of Covid-19, explains the entity.
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