COVID UPDATE
In the past 24 hours Andalucia has reported 2821 new cases and 72 deaths.
For Almeria Province the figures are 218 new cases and 2 deaths.
Almeria Province is one of the two provinces with lowest figures (together with Huelva).
In Almeria in the past 24 hours there have been 12 new hospitalizations, 2 in ICU.
This brings the total for Almeria to 133 in hospital, 35 in ICU.
As yet there is no sign of a statistical fall in numbers.
However Granada province, which has been in severe lockdown for some time, has shown a slight fall in infections.
Some hospitals are under stress, particularly in Sevilla and Granada, and there have been suggestions of moving patients to Malaga where they have spare capacity.
However the staff in Malaga say they are already stressed.
As for the vaccine.
The EU has ordered 1.2 billion of the various vaccines.
This includes 300 million of the Pfizer vaccine, of which Spain will receive 30 million, enough for a third of the population.
However this vaccine has to be stored at minus 80 degrees. It can be transported in dry ice where it will survive for around 5 days. So a lot of problems.
The EU together with everyone is trying to negotiate a deal for the Moderna vaccine.
However a word of caution from the chief virologist in Spain.
She has warned that we do not know how long the protection will last nor whether people will still be infectious.
Also because it boosts the immune system there is limited proof that it will help the most severe cases, where the immune system is already low.
But on the positive side she confirms that they are safe, the only possible side affect (5%) is a headache and aching limbs for a few days.
We have to wait until Sunday to find out what further restrictions will be in place when the current restrictions end.
