“Portugal achieved, as of December 20, a total of 24,056,249 million Covid-19 tests performed since the start of the pandemic, approximately 16 million TAAN / PCR tests and approximately 8.1 million Rapid Antigen Tests (TRAg ) for professional use”. The information was revealed this Wednesday by the Testing Task Force, in a statement. These data do not include self-tests.

This month, between the 1st and the 20th, “close to 2.7 million Covid-19 diagnostic tests” were performed, with a “daily average of nearly 133,000 tests”. Of these, about 870 thousand were TAAN / PCR and close to 1.8 million were TRAg for professional use.

The same note also indicates that, “since the beginning of the month, Portugal has registered daily testing numbers in excess of 100,000 tests in 15 of the 20 days already counted, December 17 being the day on which, until the data, more tests were carried out since the beginning of the pandemic: 227,284“

It should be recalled that the rapid antigen tests carried out in laboratories and pharmacies that adhere to the exceptional reimbursement scheme were once again free of charge as of November 19, a measure that was reinforced, indicated by the Prime Minister, António Costa, this Tuesday, after meeting of the Council of Ministers.

Now, each user can now perform up to six free tests per month – previously there were four – under the measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

Regarding the availability of tests on the market to respond to the demand that has been registered, António Costa added that the various entities are “making an effort” to guarantee tests during the Christmas and New Year period.

Faced with the risks of worsening the pandemic #COVID-19 with the increase of the Ómicron variant, and until we complete the process of strengthening the # vaccination, we have adopted, to be in force until the next 10th of January, a set of new measures. https://t.co/NSzZRLHTFc

– António Costa (@antoniocostapm) December 21, 2021

[Notícia atualizada às 08h13]

Also read: BY THE MINUTE: New rules for Christmas; Biden refuses “panic” for Omicron