Tenerife joins Gran Canaria at Alert Level 2 due to the risk of Covid

The Ministry of Health has updated the health alert levels today after the epidemiological report of the General Directorate of Public Health, which is carried out in accordance with the criteria of the Surveillance and Control Strategy for Covid-19 for this phase of the pandemic, based on indicators for hospital pressure, hospital bed occupancy, and incidence in those over 60 years old.

As a result of the report, Tenerife rises to Alert Level 2 due to the evolution of the indicator for the occupancy of conventional hospital beds, since the use of ICU beds has not been affected.

The rest of all islands remain at the same alert level as before: Gran Canaria remains at level 2 or medium risk, and Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro stay level 1, or low risk.

It is important to understand that these alert levels are different than the ones that dictated the restrictions on group sizes, capacities, and closing times, that were shelved when the restrictions were dropped, as some people are getting confused and are concerned that the islands are returning to those restrictions.

In this system, to evaluate risk, there are five levels (0-4) that assess whether the spread or incidence of the virus is one of controlled circulation, which is the lowest, or low, medium, high, or very high risk.

It has been well publicised that the number of new cases is increasing and that incidence in the over 60s continues to rise and that sales of Antigen tests in chemists have increased sharply pointing to a rise in other age groups, of which the Ministry of Health for Spain are concerned about and haven’t ruled out a reintroduction of restrictions if necessary.

It is more than likely that they will re-introduce the use of masks indoors if it continues, which would be at a national level affecting the whole of Spain.

Earlier this afternoon following the Governing Council meeting in the Canary Islands, Julio Perez said they are not intending to introduce any measures locally to restrict activities or limit travel, as the health indicators do not warrant it.

However, he did place special emphasis on the importance of vaccination at this time and urged residents of the Canary Islands to continue getting vaccinated as a certain "relaxation" is noticeable in the second or third doses and is not helping the situation.