Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause infections in people. These infections usually affect the respiratory system and can be similar to the flu or develop into a more serious illness, such as pneumonia.

The new coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2, was identified for the first time in December 2019 in China, in the city of Wuhan. This new agent has never been identified in humans before. The source of the infection is still unknown.

The route of transmission is still under investigation. Person-to-person transmission has been confirmed and there is already infection in several countries and in people who had not visited the Wuhan market. The investigation is continuing.

Most infected people have mild to moderate symptoms of acute respiratory infection:

• Fever (T>37.5ºC)
• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing (shortness of breath)

In more serious cases, it can cause severe pneumonia with acute respiratory failure, kidney and other organ failure, and eventual death. However, most cases recover without sequelae.

COVID-19 is transmitted through close contact with people infected with the virus, or contaminated surfaces and objects.

This disease is transmitted through droplets released from the nose or mouth when we cough or sneeze, which can directly reach the mouth, nose and eyes of those nearby.

The droplets can be deposited on objects or surfaces around the infected person. In turn, other people can become infected by touching these objects or surfaces and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth with their hands.

To increase the number of tests carried out in deprived areas (less mobile population) and to support and provide treatment while maintaining continuity of health care and other essential services.

No. The patients assessed in the Lorry of Hope are patients identified by the Local Health Authority and/or the Municipalities according to clinical severity.

Once the list of patients had been identified, there were two alternative procedures:

• If the list of users is long, a team from the van with a doctor and nurse will go to the users' homes to carry out this validation
• If the list of users is short, these users are called to the lorry for validation and, if necessary, testing

All the patients who come to the lorry are given a mask when they arrive, which they keep on throughout the process - removing it only for the swab and to see the oropharynx.

The Lorry of Hope is in constant coordination with the health institutions that identify the places where the tests are most needed, as well as who the most urgent patients are.

The Lorry of Hope team will carry out the test on validated cases and there is no charge to the user.

The teams in the Lorry of Hope received the patients, administratively processed the necessary data and took the nasopharyngeal sample in accordance with good practice and the highest technical and safety standards, ensuring compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

All laboratory results are sent to the Health Institutions responsible and to the patient, who will act in accordance with the clinical protocol applicable to each case.

After the Lorry of Hope team collects the sample, it will be sent to the partner laboratory where it will be processed in accordance with DGS standards. The result will be communicated to the user in approximately 48 to 72 hours.

At the end of the collection, the Lorry of Hope team will give the user an information leaflet (drawn up in collaboration with the health institutions), in accordance with the guidelines of the Directorate-General for Health. All the data will be reported on the platforms required for proper follow-up of all patients.

Yes. Every day there will be a report of the work to be sent to the local Health Authorities, the partners involved and to be registered on the necessary platforms.

The makeup of the team varies according to local needs and is always kept to a minimum.

Cleaning and disinfection of areas, premises and materials will be carried out every day at the end of the day, between shifts and whenever necessary, in accordance with the guidelines of the Directorate-General for Health.

All the professionals involved in the project will have the necessary conditions to guarantee their safety and that of the users being tested. The administrative staff will be equipped with gowns, gloves and surgical masks, and the health professionals with full protective suits or waterproof gowns, resistant gloves (nitrile), FFP2 masks, eye protection and shoe protection. Daily work will be carried out in 2 shifts of 3 hours each, without interruptions, not only to reduce the use of PPE, but also to minimise the risk of professional-to-patient, patient-to-professional and patient-to-patient contagion. The professionals involved are monitored daily, with temperature and presence/absence of symptoms recorded, as recommended by Standard no. 013/2020;

If you have any questions about the virus and its associated diseases, find out more here.