Testing to retirement homes in Porto is now expanded to institutions of citizens with disabilities and the homeless

3500 people have already been tested in the city's retirement homes, namely the elderly and respective caretakers, and although the testing programme will continue for more days until everyone is tested, Porto City Hall has extended this programme to institutions of citizens with disabilities and the homeless, with the support of Health Centres in Porto. 

The full testing of nursing homes in Porto includes testing elder citizens and caretakers, regardless of showing any symptoms; this project by Porto City Hall also includes a backup solution to accommodate the elderly that cannot stay in their retirement home.

This is a unique programme so far in Portugal, for its dimension and for the systematic testing that enabled the screening of over 3500 people.

Several institutions that care for citizens with disabilities have asked the Municipality's help to test their beneficiaries; as such, as of 14th April circa 230 people have already been tested, which includes homeless people. The Hospital Joaquim Urbano accommodates homeless people and its facilities have been strengthen to revive more homeless people, up to double normal capacity.

The purpose of this testing programme is to prevent contagion chains, by identifying positive cases and to protect facilities and institutions that accommodate these people from potential systemic infections.

This Municipal Programme was possible due to the five thousand PCR tests for Covid-19, donated by the Fosun Foundation (Shanghai) and the Portuguese Gestifute. This project counts on the support of the São João Hospital, health centres in Porto and the local health authorities.