New Coimbra platform to aggregate all university’s Covid-19 research

The University of Coimbra, in central Portugal, has launched a platform to aggregate all the institution’s research projects associated with the effects of and fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, it announced on Tuesday.

“With a focus on prevention, containment and mitigation of the disease caused by the new coronavirus, the platform ‘UC Against Covid-19’ has just been launched, which will aggregate all research and innovation projects of the UC associated with the effects and fight against the pandemic,” the university said in a news release sent to Lusa.

The platform “intends to unite efforts in the carrying out of screening tests for the disease, in the production of protective equipment and materials (such as masks, visors or disinfectant gel), scientific and technological research and reasearch on the impact of the disease on society, and in the sharing of studies, analyses and reflections of researchers at the UC on these topics,” the statement explains.

The most significant progress and results will be disseminated in this way over the coming weeks, the statement promises.

According to the university, the platform also includes other of the institution’s initiatives in response to the covid-19 pandemic, such as the provision of computer equipment for students in economic need, the creation of an emotional support line and a programme to promote physical and mental well-being.

In Portugal, according to Monday’s daily bulletin from the Directorate-General of Health, there have been 140 deaths from Covid-19 and 6,408 confirmed cases of infection by the new coronavirus, an increase of 446 on Sunday (+7.5%).

Of those infected, 571 are in hospital, 164 of them in intensive care. There are so far 43 patients who have already recovered.