Spain is one of the European countries where the number of corona infections is increasing rapidly. Spanish hospitals are once again dealing with significant case numbers. The corona figures are rising so quickly Spain is officially again classified as a high risk country.
Since mid-May, just over 50 days ago, Spain was officially no longer classified as “high risk”. Although the corona incidence was as high then as it is now, about 153 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days, Spain was in a very different situation. At that time, the number of infections fell sharply. Now, the delta variant is spreading rapidly, resulting in a rapidly rising line.
Spain again high risk
At the end of last week, the incidence of the number of infections per 100,000 inhabitants rose by more than 10 per day. On June 27, Spain registered 95 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and by July 2, this number had risen to 152.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. With these figures, Spain is again qualified as a high-risk country.
Pressure on Spanish hospitals is increasing
These rising infection rates are slowly seeping through to Spanish hospitals with rising admissions. In the Spanish regions of La Rioja, Catalonia and Madrid, the percentage of ICU beds occupied with Covid patients is between 10% and 15%. Percentages higher than 15% indicate a high risk in hospitals.
Spanish young people responsible for a large share of infections
In mid-May, the infections were fairly evenly spread among the age groups in Spain. Now it is mainly young people who infect each other. The incidence among Spaniards between the ages of 20 and 29 is 293.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Closely following are young people between the ages of 12 and 19 with an incidence of 287.8.
In some Spanish provinces, the average incidence even exceeds 300. This is the case in Cantabria, Barcelona and Córdoba. In almost all Spanish regions, the number of infections among people between the ages of 12 and 29 is extremely high.
Young people in Spanish hospitals
Although it is known young people are not as ill after being infected, they are not exempt from risk. Since the start of the pandemic, 1.5% of people from these age groups have ended up in hospital. 0.1% had to be admitted to the ICU.
The rapidly rising incidence has caused some regions to reverse their easing. They are particualrly focusing on restrictions for nightlife. Find out in this article which measures various Spanish regions are taking to control the rising number of infections.
