On May 21st, the Port of Lisbon Authority started testing, on a regular basis, its workers for SARS-CoV-2, namely the staff related to the operational areas of the Port of Lisbon (pilots, master mariners and seamen as well as inspection personnel), whose activity has a greater degree of exposure to the risk of contagion.
This initiative is part of the “Plan for the Promotion of the Operationalization of the Testing Strategy in Portugal – SARS-CoV-2”, and aims to cover all staff of this Port Authority and to provide a quick response that minimizes the risk of contagion and transmission among the employees, thus, ensuring that the Port of Lisbon continues to pursue its mission without disruptions in service, especially now with the lifting of restrictive measures in the port and maritime activities.
The testing process has proved to be an essential tool in the current process of lifting lockdown, in which all are invited to participate, especially in the early identification of asymptomatic cases, thus contributing to the control of the COVID-19 epidemic in Portugal.