Date Published: 08/10/2021
ARCHIVED - Spain enters low risk coronavirus range: Covid update October 7
The cumulative incidence rate has dropped to 48.92 cases, Spain's lowest figure since July last year
Thursday October 7 is certainly a memorable day, as it marks Spain’s entry into the low risk range for Covid-19 infections for the first time in more than a year, reaching a cumulative incidence rate of 48.92 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Figures this low haven’t been seen since July 28, 2020.
In the summer of 2020, Spain appeared to be coming out the other side of the pandemic when infection rates dropped following home confinement; however, the incidence curve began a gradual increase that reached its peak in early November. Cases soared after Christmas and the incidence rate reached an all-time high of around 900 in January. Spain was hit with the fifth wave in the summer of 2021, when the country reached a peak of 701 cases in July, but the situation has been improving steadily week on week.
Now, the health authorities have set a new target: reaching the ‘new normal’ level, which is achieved by lowering the cumulative incidence rate below 25 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Cumulative incidence rate by autonomous communities
The all-important figure continues to vary by region, with nine communities in medium risk, eight at low risk, and only Asturias and Galicia currently at the ‘new normal’ level. Castilla y Leon follows with 32.74 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and both Andalucía, with 36.42 and the Community of Valencia, with 38.06, have made great strides this week.
The director of the Centre for the Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies, Fernando Simón, highlighted that Spain has now experienced twelve consecutive weeks of continuous and stable decline, something which hasn’t been seen since January 2020, and he added that he is confident a sixth wave can be avoided.
Coronavirus infections
The latest data from the Ministry of Health in Spain show that a further 1,807 new Covid cases were reported on Thursday, bringing the total number of infections since the beginning of the pandemic to 4,971,310.
Hospitalisations and deaths
A total of 23 Covid-related deaths have been recorded in the last 24 hours, up from 18 on the same day last week. The total official death toll now stands at 86,701.
There are currently 2,088 patients hospitalised for Covid throughout Spain with 551 being treated in the ICU – these figures are both lower than on the previous day. In the last 24 hours, there have been 196 admissions and 302 discharges, while the occupancy rate of beds on general wards stands at 1.71% (down from 1.83% the day before) and 6.02% in intensive care.
Vaccination data
The vaccination campaign continues its slow but steady progress, and 36,832,362 people, representing 87.4% of the population over the age of 12, have now been fully immunised against Covid. In addition, 89.7% or 37,772,454 people have received at least one jab.
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