The Portuguese private security company COPS – Companhia Operacional de Segurança ensured the vaccination of all guards from hospitals where it provides services.
Amid the pandemic situation caused by the SARS CoV-2 outbreak, the Portuguese private security company COPS defined as urgent the public recognition of the figure of security guards, including their rights and duties, which were essential in the rapid change of working paradigms, access to facilities and safety of employees of the companies where they operate.
Therefore, and considering the direct contact with patients that arrive to the different hospital units where the company provides surveillance services, more than 90% of the elements belonging to COPS teams deployed in health units are already vaccinated against the Covid-19.
“By immunizing our security guards, we are guaranteeing their safety, of their families, of users and employees with whom we have daily contact, and we are also taking care of our teams. Since the beginning we asked for them to be included in the vaccination round and in the vaccination plans of each hospital unit, and so they were considered by hospitals, due to the fundamental role that we play in these health units, by now we have more than 90% of our professional vaccinated”, says Pedro Toste, COPS general director.
COPS is an 100% Portuguese SME that has as core activity the provision of security services to third parties. With more than ten years in the sector and with around 1500 employees, COPS has security guards at service of public and private institutions that play crucial roles in protection and surveillance, such as all courts in the country, hospitals, health centers, schools and universities, city halls, theaters, entertainment spaces, hotels and resorts, condominiums, and others of high security such as the PGR (Attorney’s General Office), the DCIAP (Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action) or the Administration of the Port of Sines, among others.
COPS provides private security services in Portuguese hospitals and health centers, making up, now, a total of 12 health units in Portugal Continental, where a total of 212 security guards are deployed.