MADRID – The latest corona incidence rates in Spain were announced on Friday. The figures rose 37 points to 537 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Furthermore, with extreme peaks within the target group between 20 and 29 years. Pressure on healthcare in Catalonia is worrying.
With this average corona incidence of 537 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the past 14 days, the fifth corona wave in Spain will officially exceed the second wave in November 2020. The highest incidence was then 529 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. This figure rose in every region of Spain, but the increase was highest in the Balearic Islands (+134), in Aragón (+59) and in Catalonia (+53). All Spanish regions are currently classified as ‘extremely high risk’ except Murcia, Castile-La Mancha, Ceuta and Melilla.
Extreme figures for Spaniards between 20 and 29 years
The number of infections within the target group between 20 and 29 is still the highest. The average incidence rates of Spaniards from this age group is 1,581 cases per 100,000 inhabitants for the whole of Spain. In Castile and León and Catalonia, this figure even exceeds 3,000 per 100,000 inhabitants.
What about hospital admissions in Spain?
The corona incidence is one of the factors used to demonstrate the seriousness of the situation. The number of hospital admissions is another important factor. If Covid patients occupy more than 15% of the available beds, there is a high risk. At a percentage of at least 25%, the risk is called ‘extremely high’.
Pressure on hospitals in Catalonia is worrying
The average occupancy of ICU beds with Covid patients is currently 9.59%, which is already close to the threshold of an average risk. However, at the moment, the situation in the care sector in Catalonia is quite worrying. Of all available ICU beds, almost 25% of the beds are occupied with Covid patients.
Two-track policy Spain
Regional authorities are following a two-track policy to bring the situation under control. Firstly, they are doing their best to rapidly increase the vaccination rate. This will help to ensure people who become infected do not become so sick that they end up in hospital or even in the ICU. Secondly, several regional governments announced new restrictive measures this week to quell the rising number of infections.
Almost half of Spaniards fully vaccinated
On Friday, the Spanish Ministry of Health announced 61.2% of the Spanish population has now had at least one shot. 49.3% of Spaniards are fully vaccinated. Nearly 80% of people over 40 have now been fully vaccinated. Also, vaccination of young people in Spain is now underway. 4.1% of young people between the ages of 12 and 19 have been vaccinated once (1.1% are fully vaccinated). For the group between 20 and 29 years, this percentage is 23.4% (12.5% being fully vaccinated).
