In a statement, the municipality in the Algarve states that the testing centre, located in the car park in front of the City Hall, will operate daily between 9am and 12pm and between 5pm and 8pm.

Albufeira is one of six counties in the country that was unable to advance to the third phase of easing of lockdown, which started on April 19, remaining in the second phase due to the high incidence of cases of covid-19 per 100 thousand inhabitants in 14 days.

The Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC) will perform free of charge, by prior appointment, so-called rapid tests (antigen), however, whoever wants to, can “at their own expense” do the PCR test (molecular test done in the laboratory).

Cited in the note, the Mayor of Albufeira, José Carlos Rolo, says he intends to “really identify the situation, so that we can move on to the third phase of the easing of lockdown in a safe and responsible way".

The mayor ensures that "he is willing to do everything in his power" so that the restrictions imposed in Albufeira are changed "and says he hopes that the testing operation "will contribute to this objective".

The testing operation started today “aims to control the number of positive cases in Albufeira and to screen for community contagions, in order to prevent pandemic spread,” reads the note.

“Having a safe summer, partly depends on us, so the contribution of each one is decisive”.

Those interested in taking the covid-19 screening test should make an appointment by calling 964585486 (from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm) or via the Albufeira Safe website at https://albufeirasafe.com/.