“In this collective decisive phase in the fight against the virus, it is important to note that Portugal continues to increase the number of tests carried out. Since 1 March, 110,000 diagnostic tests have been carried out,” said António Sales.
The Secretary of State stressed that the installed capacity for diagnosis is 11,000 tests per day, 7,000 in the public sector and 4,000 in the private sector.
According to António Sales, 54 percent of the tests were carried out in public laboratories and 46 percent in private laboratories.
“It is also important to say that Portugal has a test of about 10,500 processed samples per million inhabitants, which is in line and, in some cases, above countries like Sweden and Denmark and not far from Italy”, he stressed.
The Secretary of State also ensured “some stability in purchases” of material and in the forecast for delivery of orders.
According to the minister, during this week 500 ventilators arrive in Portugal and, in the next, another 500.
Of the donations made by various organizations, António Sales said that 144 ventilators are being delivered to hospitals across the country and according to needs.