"We have 65,000 workers in the homes, so within three weeks we will be able to complete the programme in nursing homes across the country," said Ana Mendes Godinho to journalists in Peniche.

"It is a process that is not completed because we want to continue monitoring," she warned.

The programme of tests in nursing homes, with the realisation of 4000 daily, currently has two dozen partners, including universities, polytechnics, research units and regional health administrations, said the minister.

"The objective is to isolate positive cases among professionals who work in the homes, since the homes have not had visits for more than a month and those who are at risk of having the virus are the workers", explained Ana Mendes Godinho.

The programme includes other measures, such as the proper separation of users and the correct use of personal protective equipment", she recalls.

"More than 50 percent of the people in the homes are over 80 years old, which shows that it is a fragile and vulnerable population", underlined the official.

This programme is implemented with intermunicipal communities, in conjunction with local health authorities and district Social Security centres.