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The standard extending SARS-CoV-2 testing to all contacts, including molecular testing to low-risk testing, was published Thursday by DGS.
According to the norm for the follow-up of contacts in the context of the disease pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, which comes into effect at 00:00 on Monday 15, “low-risk contacts should be screened SARS-CoV-2 (molecular testing) at the time of contact identification. “
The document also makes it clear that “in cluster or outbreak situations all contacts” must do “laboratory tests for SARS-CoV-2 (rapid antigen tests) as soon as possible, which can be repeated sequentially, under the coordination of the health authorities”. .
The extension of the tests to all contacts with infected people had already been announced this Wednesday by DGS and the Minister of Health, Marta Temido.
In a statement released this Wednesday, the entity under the supervision of Graça Freitas explained that, “in view of the current epidemiological situation, it is due to the appearance” of strains detected in other countries and that, meanwhile, have already spread throughout Portugal. , or due to “lower daily incidence” of infections, DGS would update the guidelines.
The extension of the use of laboratory tests to all contacts (high and low risk), the wide availability of rapid antigen tests (TRAg) in the health units of the National Health Service (SNS), and the implementation of screening newspapers with TRAg in Schools and sectors of activity that are particularly exposed (factory workers, construction workers, among others) will be promoted.
The General Directorate of Health (DGS) added that the use of TRAg has “progressively spread”, both at the level of the places where TRAg can be performed, “and at the level of professionals who can perform them.”
That same day, the Health Minister defended the need for massive tests and did not rule out the possibility of free tests.
“We fully follow the need to make massive use of tests, from PCR tests, to rapid antigen tests, to saliva tests that are also available, regardless of the recommendations we recently received,” said Marta Temido. in the Health Commission, in the Assembly of the Republic.
The increased testing has been championed by various experts, notably epidemiologist Manuel do Carmo Gomes, who said on Tuesday that massive testing is the “main weapon” in the fight against the pandemic.
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