The National Institute of Medical Emergency transported about 12,643 users suspected of being infected with Covid-19, from the beginning of March to 17 May, which totals an average of 162 daily cases. The figures are part of INEM’s assessment of the activity in the context of the current pandemic caused by the new Sars-Cov-2, published on its own website.

With the transition to the Mitigation Phase in the response plan of the Directorate-General for Health to Covid-19, INEM recalls that any situation of shortness of breath screened by the Urgent Patients Guidance Centers (CODU) was considered a suspect in Covid- 19, forcing pre-hospital emergency medical professionals to be extra careful.

The transport carried out required a careful disinfection of the ambulances and their equipment, some of which were carried out in collaboration with the National Republican Guard, Armed Forces and other civil protection agents.

Since March 10, INEM has made available nursing teams to collect biological samples from households, homes or other institutions, to reduce the need to transport patients to hospitals. The six teams that INEM created for this purpose made a total of 7,497 sample collections for analysis to date.

With the objective of detecting suspected cases of infection with the new coronavirus early, INEM allocated teams to continental airports to monitor and evaluate suspected cases. From March 20 to May 10, 1,598 passengers were monitored, with 10 suspected cases detected. 1,916 passengers of the MSC Fantasia cruise ship, docked in Lisbon, were also checked by the workers of INEM, with no suspicious cases being detected.

INEM additionally operated support structures for hospital units, having set up screening tents at the São João Hospitals, in Porto, and Dona Estefânia, in Lisbon. He also assisted in the setting up of a “field hospital” in Ovar, with the provision of material and technical consultancy for the assembly of the provisional structure.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 18 INEM workers and collaborators tested Covid-19 positively. On May 17, only three professionals are infected, two of whom are service providers. All of these professionals were monitored by INEM teams created for this purpose, and none inspired care.

INEM also looked for solutions so that its workers could perform functions through the teleworking regime. Conditions were created for 200 professionals to work from home, not only workers back office , but also professionals CODU.

In addition to all the work carried out in the Covid-19 context, INEM, through the Integrated Medical Emergency System, continued to respond to daily work, sudden illnesses and accidents that did not stop happening, guaranteeing the provision of pre-emergency care. – hospital to all citizens who need them.