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Portuguese Director of Health tests positive for Covid-19

PORTUGUESE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19The General Director of Health, Graça Freitas, 63, is infected with covid-19.  She has no symptoms but was tested last night, showing a positive result, after being in contact with an infected person.

To guarantee maximum speed, the reference laboratory, the Ricardo Jorge Institute, maintained a team working to guarantee total urgency in the PCR analysis.

The Minister of Health, Marta Temido, was also tested, with a team travelling to her home. Another group of professionals in charge of testing high individualities also travelled to Leiria, to carry out the covid-19 analysis to the Assistant Secretary of State and Health, António Sales.

Their drivers and family have also been tested for possible pandemic coronavirus infection.

Graça Freitas confirmed to Portuguese newspaper Expresso that she was infected and guarantees that she has only mild symptoms.

The Directorate-General for Health confirmed “the tracking of contacts by the Regional Health Authority is currently underway, to identify all people potentially exposed.” 

A press conference that was scheduled for today at the DGS has been cancelled.

Original article available in Portuguese at http://postal.pt/