In July 2021 "a new monthly high of Covid-19 testing was reached in Portugal", with 2,031,649 Covid-19 diagnostic tests (PCR and rapid antigen tests for professional use), a daily average of 65,537 tests, announced the National Institute of Health Doctor Ricardo Jorge (INSA) in a statement.

“This is the highest monthly testing number since the beginning of the pandemic, corresponding to 12.9 percent of the total diagnostic tests carried out since March 2020”, says the INSA.

Data advanced to the Lusa News Agency by the INSA need that 16 July was the day on which more tests were performed 95,680.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, in March 2020, until last Monday, 15,862,834 tests were carried out in Portugal, of which 12,329,598 were PCR tests and 3,533,236 rapid tests of antigen for professional use.

This year, more than 63 percent of all diagnostic tests have been carried out since the beginning of the pandemic, with the months of April, May, June and July (until 26 July) accounting for around 40 percent of the total number of tests.

Of the total number of tests carried out since the beginning of the pandemic, 38.8 percent were carried out in the National Health Service, 50.7 percent in the private sector and 10.5 percent in institutions, academic

"The testing effort, which has been going on since March 2020, is, together with vaccination and non-pharmacological measures such as the use of masks and physical distance, one of the fundamental pillars of preventing outbreaks and controlling the pandemic", stresses the INSA.

The Institute also emphasizes that this increase in testing in Portugal is based on the plan to promote testing in Portugal.

This strategy has three intervention areas: directed testing, programmed testing and generalized testing.

"This plan meets the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), and continues a vast testing program, massive and systematic, in line with the National Testing Strategy for SARS-CoV-2, as defined by the order No. 019/2020 of the Directorate-General for Health”, states the INSA in the statement.