Over 35M coroanvirus tests carried out since start of pandemic
The Dr. Ricardo Jorge National Institute of Health (INSA) announced on Friday that over 35 million tests to detect Covid-19 have been carried out in Portugal since the beginning of the pandemic.
More than 35 million tests to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been carried out in Portugal since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, not including self-tests, the Dr. Ricardo Jorge National Institute of Health (INSA) announced on Friday.
In a statement, INSA said that the 35 million mark was reached on Tuesday and that January was a record month in terms of testing for the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19, with approximately 8 million performed – 2.4 million PCR tests and nearly 5.6 million rapid antigen tests (TRAg) – or an average of 257,000 tests per day.
The 35 million tests performed since March 2020 break down into about 19.2 million PCR tests and 15.9 million rapid antigen tests.
Regarding the TRAg tests, INSA notes that the exceptional temporary scheme for people to take a limited number per month for free at participating pharmacies and laboratories has been extended until the end of February, to strengthen the control of the pandemic.
“According to data from the ECDC – European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (week 3/2022), Portugal was the sixth country in the European Union to carry out most tests for Covid-19 per 100,000 inhabitants, in that week,” the statement adds.
