The sixth wave of Covid-19 is a cloud hanging over Andalucia. As a result, the Junta de Andalucia is considering a Covid Passport for certain activities.
A sixth Covid wave in Andalucia is a distant cloud, but still threatening. Whilst the figures in the province are far from the alarming figures of other communities, such as Navarra or the Basque Country, it has spurred the authorities into action.
Current incidence rate
The incidence rate, according to the latest data provided this Saturday by the Ministry of Health and Families, stands in the region at 65.67 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. That is just over half 111 average in Spain. It is also considerably lower than the 300 cases from Navarra or the 247 registered in the Basque Country.
However, the Andalucian government is already considering following in the footsteps of other regions and using the so-called Covid passport. The passport is a European certificate of vaccination, having a recent negative test or of having overcome the disease – to stop infections on the rise.
“Progressive” Covid passport
The president of the Board, Juanma Moreno, said this Saturday in Granada, that the Junta is considering the “progressive” imposition of the Covid passport to access certain venues and activities.
The goal, he said, would be “to motivate those who have not been vaccinated.” The Basque Country, Navarra or Galicia have already requested or are applying this measure as a brake on contagion. Andalucia, whose committee of experts meets this week, would follow in the footsteps of these communities. Although, Moreno said, in Andalucia “right now there is no excessive risk. “
Read: More regions considering Covid passport
Extending vaccination is the main objective of the Junta de Andalucia, although the regionis at the forefront of Spain in terms of vaccination of young people under 30 years of age. “But the pandemic has not ended,” Moreno warned.
Increasing infections
The data of the last weeks show how the rate of new infections is accelerating. In the last day recorded by the Ministry of Health, the number of new cases of Covid-19 amounts to 741, with 16 new hospitalised. That is double the infections registered only fourteen days ago.
On November 6, the number of new positives for SARS-CoV-2 was 363. In these two weeks, with the exception of a couple of days in which it fell below 300 cases, infections have not stopped increasing. From November 9 to 10, they grew by more than a hundred and stood at around 400; this past Wednesday they already exceeded 500. By Thursday they exceeded 700.
The incidence rate has not grown at the same speed. However, it has experienced a notable increase, of more than 80%, in these fourteen days. The rate has risen from 36.29 cases per 100,000 inhabitants on the 6th to 65.67 this Saturday (20th November).
Andalucia hospitalisation figures
Currently, 65% of those hospitalised for covid in Andalucia are unvaccinated, according to Moreno. He is insisting on the need for vaccination.
Andalucia registered a rise of two hospitalised for Covid-19 yesterday, taking the total to 206. This represents an increase of 26 in the interweekly comparison. Meanwhile, the patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit ( UCI) remains unchanged at 40, six more than last week.
