As predicted, the worst nightmares are coming true across Europe with an increase of new coronavirus infections, lockdowns, and increase in travel restrictions, and the Ministry of Health in Spain have warned today, that the 'Christmas effect' and the arrival of the 'British strain' have not yet been fully reflected in the new statistics.
The number of infections has soared with a weekly increase of 25% that leaves the door wide open for Spain to plunge into a third wave of the pandemic. Compared to the 24,462 new cases that they notified of on last Monday, the Ministry today reported 30,579 new infections for the same period of four days of holidays. This means that the total number of officially infected people in Spain is now 1,958,844.
Curiously, this strong increase in cases was not reflected in the cumulative incidence rate over 14 days (AI14), which went from 279 to 272 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, but this is a 'mirage' caused by delays in notifications due to the holidays and the reduction in the number of tests, according to the specialists, who fear that from this tomorrow (Tuesday) this ‘flood’ of data will begin to emerge in the statistics. "After several holidays there are usually certain delays and a precise assessment will not be possible for a few days afterwards," warned the number two of the Centre for the Coordination of Alerts and Health Emergencies, María José Sierra.
“Complicated weeks are ahead of us. Let's not be fooled: the pandemic in our country is continuing to grow”, warned Salvador Illa.
In fact, apart from the AI14, the worsening of the main indicators that show the evolution of the pandemic was generalized. The positivity rate of tests has exceeded 10%, a percentage that has not been seen since the end of November.
But much more worrying if possible is the sharp increase in pressure on the country's hospitals, the Achilles heel of the pandemic and the one that may force the authorities to tighten restrictions again to prevent its collapse. The percentage of occupancy of ICU beds by Covid patients - the most delicate value - rose almost two points in four days to 23%, numbers that had not been seen since December 4th. The occupation of the positions in wards by coronavirus patients has increased since New Year's Eve from 9.49% to 11.12%.
