Vista de la playa de Platja d'Aro (Girona) en el inicio de la temporada de verano 2022 en Cataluña. Foto: David Borrat / EFE.

Spain: rebound in the pandemic threatens summer vacations

The rebound in infections COVID-19 in recent weeks has complicated the health situation in Spain at the beginning of the summer months, when a large influx of tourists is expected, after two years of restrictions due to the pandemic.

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health, provided this Friday, the incidence is 996 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in those over 60 years of age, who are the ones that currently report the most, with an increase of almost 300 points in the last week.

worsening of indicators

According to Health, since June 24, the Spanish regions have reported 507 more deaths from coronavirus and 204,550 new infections have been registered in all age groups, which experts attribute to the advance of the new Omicron variants (Ba.4 and Ba.5).

With these incidence data, there has also been an increase in occupancy in hospitals, which rises to 8.3%, with more than 10,000 admitted, which complicates the health situation in Spain at the gates of a summer period that will have less professional.

In figures, Spain has exceeded the threshold of 10,000 admitted for COVID (10,249), a figure only comparable to mid-February, when the sixth wave descended, although the occupation in intensive care units is much lower (1,300 then and 449 now). ), so the severity of cases has been reduced.

According to the health authorities, the increase in hospitalizations is not only due to the coronavirus, but also to the increase in other respiratory infections, very frequent in these months.

Faced with this reality, the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, today recommended maintaining protection measures against COVID-19, including the use of masks, and urged citizens without a third dose, especially those under 50, to wear the reinforcement.

months of celebrations

According to Spanish tradition, June is a traditional month to celebrate first communions and weddings, many of them delayed by the pandemic, which is why large gatherings of family and friends without security measures have been very frequent.

In addition, this month there are massive celebrations scheduled such as the Pride party in Madrid, which was delayed due to the NATO Summit being held this week, or the Sanfermines in Pamplona (north), which bring together thousands of people in a festive atmosphere.

All these circumstances, according to the experience of the last two years, favor the spread of the virus.

Arrival of millions of tourists

Added to this is the arrival of millions of tourists expected for the months of July and August, according to data such as hotel or flight reservations.

Spain has recovered 9 out of 10 international reservations made in 2019, according to the perspectives of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism. And that year, the year before the outbreak of the pandemic, Spain received a record number of 83.7 million visitors.

Ticket reservations for domestic flights have also increased, which are 3% above the values ​​of 2019, with which significant population movements are expected throughout the country.



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