In Spain, a new wave “spreads with amazing speed”

Catalan nightclubs will only remain open for three weeks. On Friday, July 9, all “Leisure Nights” establishments, which resumed their activity on June 21 thanks to the COVID-19 quiet – with a scale at 50% and a mandatory track-dance mask – will have to close their doors again for at least two weeks . So decided the regional government in Catalonia, Spain, where the speed of the spread of the virus is more and more worrying.

Within two weeks, the incidence increased eightfold, from 45 cases per 100,000 population over seven days to 380, with a strong acceleration of progression, doubling fivefold in one week. And while the most contagious delta variant made up the majority of cases in the region, the reproduction rate (R0) rose to 3.3, which is unheard of since the pandemic began in March 2020.

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In question, the gatherings of young, unvaccinated, eager to celebrate. In Barcelona, ​​the infection rate among people aged 16 to 29 exceeded 2,000 cases per 100,000 population over a period of fourteen days. “The government understands the youth’s thirst for meetings and youth relations after many months of restrictions,” Spanish executive spokeswoman Maria Jesus Montero said on Tuesday, July 6, before asking “One last try” for the purpose of “Protecting our most vulnerable families and ourselves.”

Hospitalization is on the rise

“The number of infections is increasing at an exponential rate much higher than we can tolerate,” For its part, confirmed the Catalan government spokesman, Patricia Blaga. With 6000 cases recorded in one day, the city’s medicine was registered “Especially in tension”, she added, The vast majority of cases present with mild symptoms. But even though vaccination is going well in Spain – where 41% of the population is fully vaccinated and 60% have received at least one dose – this new wave ‘Begins to show up in hospitals’, underlined by the M line^I Beach.

In one week, the number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals increased by 30%, and by 20% in intensive care units. Even if their number remains very limited, thanks to the vaccination of those most at risk (97% of those over 70 and 100% over the 80s), Hospital del Mar in Barcelona has reopened a floor for patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. It hastened The Catalan government is vaccinating children aged 16 to 29, fearing that hospital pressure will increase in the coming days.

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