COVID IN SPAIN

[roger]

COVID IN SPAIN

Unlike the UK, the Spanish media are somewhat muted in their coverage of the pandemic.
Much more « que sera sera »

The Spanish Population is around 47 million, around 35 million adults over 20.

27 million have received at least one dose, 57% of the total population, 76% of the adult population.
20.5 million have received the full vaccination, 44% of the total population, 58% of the adult population.

There has been a small spike in infections in the last few weeks, mostly attributed to end of college parties.
Locally this was centred in Tijola.
However the health department seems to consider that this is identified and under control.

And no spike in serious cases.
In Almeria Province there are 22 people with Covid in hospital, 5 in ICU.
In Andalucia there are 509 people with Covid in hospital, 120 in ICU.
Most of the serious cases are in the age range 30 to 50, often those who have refused the vaccine or who are obese.

They have identified 100 cases of the Delta variant in Andalucia, concentrated in the 15 to 20 year olds.

Pfizer have announced that their vaccine will lose some of its strength after 6 months, and are recommending a third dose.
For us this would start around September/October.

The President of Andalucia has stated that there will be no change in the current restrictions, but has warned that there is the option of closing night time activities in August if the situation deteriorates.


So it seems that at the moment everything is progressing well, and we more or less have life back to normal.
I have just returned from trips around various Spanish towns and everything seems quite busy.
Bars and restaurants busy, everyone wearing a face mask when sensible, social distancing,

Let’s hope it continues.

[frankie]

I do wonder how Spain compares to other countries who do not have to wear masks most of the time.  I have always felt that mask wearing has saved a number of lives and am more than happy to continue to wear mine...

[Roscoe]

Thank you Roger, very interesting.

[roger]

Watching Wimbledon.
Hardly any face masks.
Last Saturday Los llanos market.
Everyone wearing face masks.
Clearly Boris has lost the plot.
No sorry. For that you need a brain.

[Roscoe]

The daily figures from UK only give positive tests and those in hospital with covid.  Have they had two jabs, or one or two.  How many In ICU?  What are they age groups and ethnicity?

[frankie]

Roger!
Roscoe, the UK Govt treat the populace like mushrooms to be kept in the dark about the real situation there, IMO....

[jimmymac]

England, are taking a gamble with this so called Freedom Day on July 19th, expect it to be confirmed tomorrow if the reckless clown Johnson goes ahead with it but pleased to see that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland  are taking a more cautious approach and waiting a bit longer before loosening their restrictions. It will be interesting to see what the outcome will be because even the learned scientists are not fully sure.

[roger]

COVID SPREAD

We can all see that everywhere the virus is spreading very rapidly.
This is leading to a big debate of what to do, given that there are very few serious cases.

In Andalucia, a population of over 8 million, there are 120 people in ICU with Covid.
85% of these have not been vaccinated.
And 72% are in the age range 50 to 60 who have declined the opportunity to have the vaccine.

Locally people born between 1994 and 1998 can obtain the vaccine.

Estimates are that the vaccine gives an 85% protection from catching the virus, and 95% protection from being seriously infected.
What this means is that social distancing and mask wearing is still important to protect against spread.
Fortunately from my observation this seems to now be inbuilt into most of the people in Spain.

Important to understand two things.
No-one knows how even a mild infection will affect the possibility if long Covid.
Also when the flu season starts we will be more vulnerable to this coronovirus, because last winter the flu virus was virtually non existent, so we will not have built up a herd immunity to a new variant.
Normally each year we can expect 15,000 deaths from the flu virus.

So we now know that we can all be much healthier if we maintain current restrictions.

[Roscoe]

Wear a mask, not rocket science.

[Wolfie]

Wear a mask, not rocket science.

 

[frankie]

They can feel very hot when walking around outside but let's face it (no pun intended), in the summer heat who does much walking outside after the streets  have been aired?  I am comfortable being inside Mercadona with the A/C on and to visit any shop with it too.  If I go to a bar, it is before 11am and I try to get home asap!
It's a small price to wear a mask if it keeps people from getting it and passing it on and I shall continue to do so for some time to come and I hope others will also wear them to keep me safe!