The unit dedicated to collecting samples to screen for the disease is intended for cases referred by health authorities and aims to "relieve the influx of potential suspects with the new coronavirus to hospitals," the Lagos Town Hall said in a statement.

This is the third point of sampling for analysis of the disease caused by the new coronavirus in the Algarve, one day after the second centre started operating, at the pavilion of the Fissul exhibition fair, in Silves.

The first centre opened on 23 March next to Estádio Algarve, between the municipalities of Faro and Loulé, with suspected cases being subjected to the collection of samples in a 'drive-thru' system, without people leaving the vehicle.

The harvesting centre in Lagos receives suspicious cases "previously referred by the National Health Service (SNS), thus avoiding the risk of infection in each test", stressed the municipality.

The screening zone, installed in the parking lot of the Escola das Naus, near the city of Lagos, resulted from a partnership between the autarchy and the Regional Health Administration (ARS) of the Algarve.

In the neighboring municipality of Portimão, the City Council made available, last week, the equipment - tents, stalls, tables, chairs and support material - to open another point for the collection of samples for covid-19 screening.

However, its entry into operation is still pending authorization from ARS / Algarve, as the municipality's source told Lusa.