Portugal`s star-studded soccer training complex turns into Covid-19 hospital

About 20 Covid-19 patients are receiving care in the same bedrooms where players like Ronaldo stay as they prepare for matches. When patients arrive at the Football City complex, a goody bag awaits them with books about football and a national team scarf. When discharged, they get to take home a jersey with their names printed on the back. (Reuters) 

The training ground, owned by the Portuguese Football Federation, decided to temporarily turn into a hospital a few weeks ago, when health units across the nation of a little more than 10 million people started to reach their limits. (Reuters) 

Portugal, which has so far reported a total of 13,017 Covid-19 deaths and 731,861 cases, has the world`s second highest seven-day rolling average of deaths per capita, according to data tracker ourworldindata.org. (Reuters) 

Hospitals have been on the verge of collapse over the past weeks, with ambulances sometimes queuing for hours because of a lack of beds. (Reuters) 

Football City`s director, describing the move as a "civic duty to help the country". Patients, who are directed to the facility by health authorities, now occupy fully equipped rooms on two out of three floors, where doctors and nurses wearing personal protective equipment are easy to spot. Meals - cooked by Football City`s own chef - are delivered straight to the patients' rooms. (Reuters)