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Date Published: 05/07/2022

ARCHIVED - Increased infections begin to take their toll on hospitals: Murcia Covid update July 5

ARCHIVED ARTICLE

Hospital admissions in the Region of Murcia have increased by 22% in recent days

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Increased infections begin to take their toll on hospitals: Murcia Covid update July 5

The month of July has heralded a new coronavirus wave, just as hoards of tourists descend on Spain for the summer holidays. Officials across the country are pushing for the reintroduction of indoor masks to stem the explosion of infections, as skyrocketing cases have inevitably begun to heap pressure on the health services.

Jesús Abenza, vice president of the Society Murcian Family and Community Medicine (Smumfyc), has warned that more and more people are attending clinics with Covid-related complaints, although the health services in Murcia are not yet suffering “an impact as in neighbouring communities.”

For now at least, the expert feels that “there is not an overwhelming situation” in Murcian healthcare, thanks in large part to “very high vaccination rates.”

Hospitalisations

Since the last health update, hospital admissions in the Region of Murcia have increased by 22%. There are currently 264 patients hospitalised, 48 more than on the same day last week. Of these, 20 are being treated for more serious conditions in the ICU, an increase of seven.

Cumulative incidence rate

The regional Minister of Health, Juan José Pedreño, warned on Monday July 4 that the incidence among people over the age of 60 has risen by 50% in recent days: the 14-day cumulative rate has now exceeded 900 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, having dropped to one of the lowest in the country just a few short weeks ago.

According to the experts, this is mostly down to the prevalence of the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants, which are now behind 56% of all infections in the Region.

“What is happening was what was expected, due to the relaxation of prevention measures and the entry into play of BA.5, which is much more contagious and also produces reinfections,” explained Enrique Bernal, head of Infectious Diseases at the Reina Sofía.

The new subvariants are able to “evade” the immune response in those who were infected during the sixth wave with the original Omicron variant. Added to this is that "immunity is falling" in general. Only 53% of the population has the third dose.

Return of the mask?

The Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, has begun recommending that people resume wearing masks indoors once more, particularly in crowded places, and has advised that anyone who tests positive should avoid going to work, although isolation for asymptomatic or mild cases is no longer mandatory.

Vaccinations

The regional health authorities are currently debating whether a fourth Covid vaccine, or second booster jab, should be offered to people over the age of 80 and vulnerable groups, the populations being hardest hit by this current wave. The Ministry is leaning towards waiting until the autumn when new vaccines designed to specifically target Omicron will arrive, but many experts are arguing that this will be far too late to stem the growth of infections.

Image: Archive

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