Spain is once again at the gates of two major festivals, the Sanfermines (this Wednesday, the chupinazo), and the Pride parade (on Saturday), in addition to many other summer celebrations. Spain has returned to the levels of covid infection that were almost five months ago, just a few months after the initial thousand cases. Two sublines of the omicron (BA.4 & especially BA.5) have a high transmission capability (also among people who have had the disease recently). According to the Ministry of Health’s Tuesday report, there are 1,135 cases per 100 000 inhabitants. This is 14% higher than the last Friday notifications and 35% higher than those made public a week ago. The incidence of virulence is highest in the 80-year-old population, where it reaches 1,483 cases.
Except for Andalusia and Asturias, Murcia, Murcia, the Valencian Community, and the Valencian Community, all autonomous communities exceed 1000 incident cases. Data shows that infections are on the rise, with levels comparable to those of the third and fifth waves (899, 700, and 700, respectively). However, this is still far below the shocking figures from last Christmas. A sixth wave of more than 3,200 cases was recorded.
Hospitalizations have increased. The number of covid-infected patients has risen to 11,586, 1,337 more than Friday’s. 502 of these patients are now in the ICU (449 on Friday), which is an occupation of 9.56% on the floor (8.57% on Friday) as well as 5.73% in intensive treatment (5.06%). There have been 148 deaths in the last four days, bringing the total number from coronavirus-related deaths to 108,259.
Carolina Darias, Minister of Health, stressed this Tuesday at the Press Conference after the Council of Ministers that it was important to use masks indoors when there is a lot of people and not enough distance. Once again, the minister has left the decision to administer the fourth dose to those over 80 years old and vulnerable groups to the experts at the Vaccine Conference. These experts are located in the Vaccine Conference. Although the decision has been made to administer this fourth dose, it is still unknown when. However, it is likely that it will be in the fall. Darias insists that the decision to give the fourth dose will be made in the Conference despite pressure from regional governments. The minister was pleased with the high number of people who have been vaccinated using the full schedule. This figure has reached 92% in 12 years.
