Holidaymakers heading to Spain for their summer breaks are being urged to be vigilant after a surge in Covid-19 infections. There were 68,186 reported cases of coronavirus according to the Ministry of Health on June 24.
The popular holiday destination has, like many other European countries, seen a sharp increase in infections, with the county set to see a further rise with the peak "three weeks away". The number of cases increased by almost 20,000 having previously stood at 48,272.
The areas with the most concern are Madrid, the Canary Islands and La Rioja, all of which have exceeded the 1,000 case barrier. The Region of Murcia has seen a sharp increase, but Andalucia, meanwhile, remains bottom of the list.
Experts warn that Spain is now enduring a seventh wave of the virus, although “almost no patients are admitted to the ICU anymore”. Dr June Torres, head of Internal Medicine at the Infanta Leonor Hospital, said: “We are in full swing and we won’t reach the peak for three weeks.”
The current wave is said to mainly affect older people. Dr Torres said those who are vulnerable “have to continue protecting themselves” as “the pandemic is not over”.
There are currently over 8,000 patients being treated for Covid-19 throughout Spain. Occupation of hospital beds and ICU places have also seen a slight increase.
The expert warned that the two new strains of Omicron, BA.4 and BA.5, which have caused the current wave in Spain, are continuously changing, and so health measures must be maintained. According to Spain’s Ministry of Health, no difference in severity has been noted in the new strains. However, a slight increase in hospital occupancy was recorded in the latest data.
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