"We expect a much greater influx from users and the measures I'm preparing are to increase the 'stocks' of self-tests, which are already starting to run out," said Cláudia Barroso, technical director of Farmácia Alegria, in Lisbon.

Following the announcement made on Thursday by the prime minister, António Costa, about the intensification of protective measures against Covid-19, the pharmacy she runs began receiving more requests for testing in the morning.

She said that already there were “many more people” looking for the test, noting that the days with the greatest demand each week are Thursday, Friday and Saturday.