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Covid comeback: infections skyrocket in Spain this summer
The number of coronavirus cases in Spain has increased by 36% with a new variant in play
The Covid pandemic has been declared officially over both in Spain and the rest of Europe and while it might feel like a distant nightmare now, the virus is still very much in evidence. In fact, in the last two weeks it has come back with a bang and the incidence rate has increased by a substantial 36%, according to Sivira (acute respiratory infection surveillance service).
"What has happened is that Covid is endemic," explained microbiologist María del Mar Tomás. "Covid is continuing and is becoming the respiratory infection of the summer."
According to Ms Tomás, the incidence is picking up "because on vacation we have more social relationships, parties, and it is clear that there is a greater detection. Diagnoses and incidence have increased."
During the last week of July, coronavirus tests detected 75 infections per 100,000 inhabitants (the incidence rate) in Primary Care facilities, which was an increase on the 55 cases reported the previous week. By age group, the highest incidence so far this summer has been in children under 5 years of age (119.5 cases per 100,000 people).
Despite this somewhat dramatic comeback, the health authorities have said there’s no cause for concern. Even though there are new variants being detected, these are still Omicron sublineages and thus don’t generally result in serious symptoms or, in many cases, any symptoms at all.
"In primary care it has been noticed, but in hospital care there does not seem to be such an incidence, so the cases, fortunately, are not serious," concluded Covid expert Vicente Martín.
However, microbiologist Ms Tomás has warned that authorities should pay close attention to another new strain called the eg.5 or Eris, which transmits more easily. This variant, she said, "is in 45 countries, is responsible for 17% of infections in the US and 15% in the United Kingdom and is probably already in Spain."
The variant is a descendant of Omicron and so presents in much the same way, with flu-like symptoms such as headache, upper respiratory tract infection and general discomfort.
For Ms Tomás, "Vulnerable and sick people should be more careful, because their immunity is less strengthened and any respiratory infection causes them a lot of damage."
Based on this development, microbiologists and primary care physicians recommend that at-risk people wear a mask and practice social distancing. In addition, it’s possible that the health authorities will roll-out yet another booster vaccination in the autumn.
Image: Freepik
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