"We are working through the National Institute of Health Ricardo Jorge, we have a stock that allows 9,000 tests in the National Health Service and we have information that the private sector will have around 17,000 tests available for the service of all," said Marta Temido, at the health authorities' daily press conference on the situation of the new coronavirus pandemic, which causes covid-19 disease.

The minister also said that they are making a “set of contacts” with various entities and looking to make “a significant test acquisition” that allows “greater freedom” to health services.

Regarding the masks, Marta Temido said that at 22:00 on Friday, the national strategic reserve had more than two million type 2 (surgical) masks and a set of deliveries for distribution.

The minister defended that it is necessary to ensure that “the acquisition capacity is guaranteed” and that the national strategic reserve is not low and the distribution is made according to the need for health services,

“It is important to realize that personal protective equipment is in fact a scarce asset” and that it is necessary to manage “as rationally as possible”, said Marta Temido, who said she understood “the anxiety of those who continue to work in the most diverse sectors ”, Such as supermarkets, pharmacies or industries that keep working”.

Portugal today raised to 12 the number of deaths associated with the covid-19 virus, double compared to Friday, according to the bulletin of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), which records 1,280 confirmed cases of infection.

According to DGS, there are 156 inpatients, 35 of whom are in intensive care. The vast majority (1,124) are recovering at home.