The rate of weekly decline in the incidence of coronavirus slows down

The cumulative incidence of coronavirus cases has dropped in one week, from Friday to Friday, 150 points, to 463 cases per 100,000. In the same period of the previous week that difference was more than 300 points, so the rate of decline is slowing down. The Ministry of Health has reported today 22,400 infections and 174 more deaths.

A health worker walks down the corridor of a hospital. EFE/Javier Belver

Compared to yesterday, the accumulated incidence has dropped by only 12 points, but the decline phase of the sixth wave continues in Spain, which has already left the extreme risk (more than 500 cases) and is at high risk.

The Canary Islands are rising in cases this week with an incidence of 868/100,000, compared to 692 last Friday.

Still at extreme risk are Galicia (722, slowly falling); Murcia (667); Aragon (508); Catalonia (659); Extremadura (572, slightly rising) and La Rioja (571).

With less incidence, at low risk: Andalusia (276); Castile-La Mancha (269); Madrid (268) and Melilla (238).

By age brackets, the highest incidence occurs in the group of 12 to 19 years (727); followed by those between 20 and 29 years old (597) and those between 30 and 39 (507).

Deaths: 1,003 reported

The Ministry of Health has notified a total of 1,003 deaths from covid since last Friday, although many of them have an earlier date of death and have been communicated late by the autonomous communities.

Last Wednesday, more than 100,000 deaths from covid were reached since records were kept at the beginning of the pandemic and this Friday they add up to 100,413.

Compared to yesterday, 174 more deaths were reported.

Infections down

According to him Ministry of Healththe total of positive notified this Friday compared to the previous day is 22,400 and 122,904 in the last eight days.

The previous week, from February 21 to 25, a total of 168,302 were recorded, reflecting a progressive drop in coronavirus cases.

This week the barrier of 11 million infections was also overcome, 11,100,428 this Friday, since the start of the pandemic.

The positivity rate of diagnostic tests It continues to drop to 16.62%, 2.6% less in a week.

No pressure in hospitals

The ICUs are at 9.3% bed occupancy with 851 patients, 39 fewer than yesterday and 202 fewer since Friday, February 25.

In Spanish hospitals, on the ward and ICU, there are 5,693 covid patients (4.5% occupancy), 296 less than yesterday and 1,555 less than the previous Friday.

vaccinations

In total there are 39.1 citizens, 91.1% of the population over 12 years of age, with the complete schedule of the covid vaccine.

In addition, 24.2 million people have already received the booster dose, 51.1% of the general population.

57.6% of children between 5 and 11 years old (1.8 million out of 3.2 million) have received at least one dose and 20.1% already have the complete schedule since the start of the pediatric vaccination campaign.

What is the relationship between alopecia and skin cancer?

Dermatology specialists have proposed measures to prevent alopecia from ending up in skin cancer, especially of the scalp, and have pointed out prevention, early diagnosis and advances in treatment as the main actions against this health problem

from left to right, the director of EFEsalud, Javier Tovar; and dermatologists Javier Vázquez Doval; Susana Puig Sarda; and Eduardo López Bran, moments before starting the debate “Alopecia and skin cancer”/EFE/Javier Liaño

This was stated by three prominent dermatologists in the EFEsalud Dialogues debate “Alopecia and skin cancer”, organized by the EFE Agency in collaboration with the San Carlos Clinical Hospital Health Research Institute (IdISSC).

In this informative meeting they have participated:

• Dr. Susana Puig Sardá, head of the Dermatology Service at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona; Professor of Dermatology at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Barcelona; and world leader in the field of diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and skin cancer.

• Doctor Javier Vázquez Doval, specialist in medical-surgical dermatology; coordinator of the Spanish Group of Cutaneous Oncology and Dermatological Surgery of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology; and a benchmark in the surgical treatment of skin cancer.

• Dr. Eduardo López Bran, head of the Dermatology Service at the San Carlos Clinical Hospital in Madrid; and full professor of Dermatology at the Faculty of Medicine of the Complutense University of Madrid. He appears in the Forbes list of the 100 best doctors in Spain and has investigated relevant dermatological drugs in worldwide clinical trials.

Alopecia can end in scalp cancer

Experts have evaluated the importance of studies and research from American and Italian universities that show the relationship between alopecia and scalp cancer.

Research from American universities has followed 36,000 patients for more than twenty years.

Regarding this work, Dr. Puig Sardá highlighted: “We have fairly strong evidence between alopecia and the risk of skin cancer. The study from North American universities observes that people with alopecia at the age of 45, twenty years later, increased the risk of basal cell carcinoma 23% and squamous cell carcinoma 33%. And the specific risk in the scalp is seven times higher than in those who did not have alopecia.”

Dr. Eduardo López Bran, head of the Dermatology Service at the San Carlos Clinical Hospital in Madrid, in one of his interventions in the debate “Alopecia and skin cancer”/EFE/Javier Liaño

Dr. López Bran added: “It is a long-term study with a large number of patients. We suspected that there was a direct relationship between alopecia and a higher incidence of scalp tumors with a poor prognosis and difficult treatment. The study comes to confirm these suspicions.

Dr. Vázquez Doval has added to the value of these investigations that have been carried out with highly motivated people, in personnel from the United States health system.

Prevention and early and accurate diagnosis of alopecia

Prevention and early diagnosis have been two of the aspects on which dermatologists have insisted.

“Efforts must be focused on primary prevention so that patients who have lost hair do not develop skin cancer on the scalp,” proposed Dr. Vázquez Doval, who has defended measures such as wearing a hat.

Dr. Susana Puig Sardá, head of the Dermatology Service at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, ​​at a moment of the debate/EFE/Javier Liaño

Dr. Puig stressed the importance of preventive measures: “The best treatment is prevention. Society must be told that lack of hair prevents natural protection, that hair protects and its loss allows ultraviolet radiation to damage our skin; simply, when the hair is lightened, you are already at risk.

López Bran has vindicated the role of the dermatologist and has underlined: “A correct diagnosis is necessary to know the cause of hair loss and establish the appropriate treatment to try to delay this loss, so that sun damage does not accumulate from an early age”.

“The incidence of scalp cancer is important. It represents a burden for the public health system and morbidity in many cases of patients”, added this dermatologist.

Dr. Vázquez Doval has stated that “small lesions on the scalp are very easily treated, better than when they grow in extension and depth. There are multiple techniques to treat it and, if the tumor has grown, a multidisciplinary treatment must be considered. In recent years there has been an arrival of new treatments that allow us to cure or almost cure skin cancer.”

Treatment of alopecia and hair transplant

“Alopecia is a disease that has a high incidence in the male and female population. At the age of 30, 30% of young people have it and it increases by 10% with each decade. It has aesthetic and also psychological importance”, has contextualized Eduardo López Bran, video blogger at EFEsalud.

Regarding hair transplants, López Bran, an expert in this technique, has highlighted the good results of these interventions, but has specified that “we must not forget that not everyone can be transplanted and that transplants have complications, you always have to do them within a comprehensive dermatological treatment”.

Dr. Javier Vázquez Doval, coordinator of the Spanish Group of Cutaneous Oncology and Dermatological Surgery of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology, presents his proposals/EFE/Javier Liaño

In this sense, Dr. Puig has remarked: “For a transplant to be successful, a global assessment of the patient is essential. It would not simplify, it is not a procedure like getting a tattoo, it is one more procedure within a therapeutic process”.

Dr. Vázquez Doval has highlighted that the diagnoses have to be made by the dermatologist “physically seeing the patient” and has warned of the existence of websites to which you send a photo and they tell you if you are a candidate for a hair transplant. “The diagnosis is not adequate if you do not see the patient”, he assured.

Conclusions

Three dermatologists, three conclusions after almost an hour of debate.

Susana Puig Sardá: “For me, the most important thing is to recognize the early signs of alopecia. If you don’t protect your scalp, you accumulate damage and pay the consequences later. Our hair is our best photoprotector. We must preserve it, and if we have lost it, solutions have to be found.”

Javier Vázquez Doval: “Skin cancer on the scalp used to be left to evolve, now it can be prevented, treated and resolved thanks to advances in medical and surgical treatments.”

Eduardo López Bran: “I want to highlight the great work of American and Italian colleagues in studies with an astonishing number of patients and almost a lifetime of research. We have diagnostic tools and training to establish the precise treatment needed by patients who are going to lose hair “.

Experts call for a multidisciplinary approach to obesity

Doctors and specialists in endocrinology ask to recognize obesity as a chronic disease, provide more adequate treatments and create prevention programs. March 4, World Obesity Day

Sports activity favors the prevention of obesity. Photo courtesy of Nacho Bazarra

According to the World Health Organization, obesity has tripled since 1975 worldwide. In 2020, 16% of the Spanish population suffered from this disease, according to data from the Ministry of Health.

Obesity is a chronic disease of pandemic dimension. Currently, more than half of the world’s population is overweight. In Europe, one in 5 people.

In Spain, the prevalence of overweight is 39.3% in adults and 21.6% of obesity. However, numerous factors prevent an effective and multidisciplinary approach.

Within the framework of World Obesity Day, the Spanish Society of Endicronology and Nutrition (SEEN) has launched a series of warnings about this pathology, as well as recommendations and requests for the approach and treatment of the disease.

little recognition

The lack of recognition by society and health professionals is one of the factors that makes an adequate approach impossible.

According to the ACTION-IO study, 59% of people with obesity recognize that it is a chronic disease and 80% believe that treatment is their responsibility.

From the association they denounce that many affected take up to 6 years to go to a health professional to request treatment.

In addition, only 44% of patients receive a diagnosis from their doctor and 24% have a follow-up.

This lack of attention is mainly due to factors such as stigmatization, lack of resources, difficult economic access to pharmacological treatment and long waiting lists for surgical treatment.

For this reason, experts ask that obesity be considered as a chronic disease and that a multidisciplinary approach be taken.

Likewise, the SEEN believes that it is necessary to carry out a strategic plan for prevention, diagnosis and treatment and recalls that the origin of obesity is complex and multifactorial.

Physical activity, the best prevention

Genetics, stress and a sedentary lifestyle are some of the causes that can produce this disease.

The health professionals explain that an adequate treatment of obesity can prevent the incidence of cancer, general mortality, cardiovascular problems and remit diabetes.

Similarly, physical activity and following a varied and balanced diet are key to preventing obesity.

For this reason, from the Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition they propose to involve the ministries of health and the different institutions to promote health and the creation of a healthier environment.

In addition, the association makes available to primary care a Comprehensive approach guide to obesity to facilitate care from the patients.

Its purpose is to promote greater knowledge and understanding of this disease to improve access to treatment and end stigma.

Photograph of a person weighing himself. EPA/ORESTIS PANAGIOTOU

Main recommendations

The high prevalence, the pleasure that food can bring, the aesthetic pressures, hoaxes and pseudosciences pose a challenge for the health approach.

On the other hand, many professionals lack training in healthy eating and there is a huge shortage of multidisciplinary teams that know how to treat this disease.

However, prevention is the best treatment.

From the medical team of Melio.es, an online blood analysis platform, they launch four recommendations to avoid obesity:

• Don’t go hungry: eat five meals a day to avoid binge eating and limit snacking. Choose healthy and filling snacks like nuts, dairy products and fruit.
• Increase the consumption of fruit: fruits provide essential vitamins and minerals for the functioning of the body. They are also rich in fiber and water, so they favor hydration and appetite regulation.
• Increase physical activity: start gradually with small challenges to keep you active. Change small habits like using the car and change them for a walk. Little by little you can increase the time and introduce more activity.
• Check your health: carry out regular check-ups of blood tests to determine the existence of dyslipidemia, diabetes or other diseases.

Conference on Alzheimer's in the Congress of Deputies

Health professionals and entities related to Alzheimer’s disease have demanded in the Congress of Deputies a greater political commitment that translates into an increase in the allocation of research resources to improve access to early diagnosis

The speakers at the Conference “Early detection and early diagnosis. New paradigms in Alzheimer’s disease”, held at the Congress of Deputies/Courtesy photo

The conference ‘Early detection and early diagnosis. New paradigms in Alzheimer’s disease’, has urged the establishment of biomedical research, key in detecting possible symptoms when there is still no brain damage, as a political priority to achieve a comprehensive approach to the pathology.

At the opening of the event, organized by the Spanish Alzheimer’s Confederation (CEAFA) in collaboration with Biogen, the president of the Health and Consumption Commission, Rosa María Romero, opened “the doors of Congress” to a series of “awareness” days of a disease that affects more than a million people in Spain, according to their estimates.

The president has determined that an early diagnosis means “better understanding of Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages” and has described research as the “great challenge for Spain” regarding the provision of resources and support for these professionals.

Along these lines, the medical director of the Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona, ​​Mercè Boada, has stated that early detection is necessary to “establish a life plan for the patient”, since their ability to reverse the process is “less and worse” without detecting the first symptoms.

Currently, 40% of the patients who arrive at the Barcelona entity have mild or very mild cognitive impairment, while thirty years ago, all the patients showed very advanced symptoms of this disease.

For this reason, Boada believes that Spain must increase its efforts both in financing science and in attracting talent in a scenario in which national research is “very small” and will cause us to “be left behind”.

More budget allocation for Alzheimer’s

The speakers also demanded a greater budget allocation for the ‘Comprehensive Plan for Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias 2019-2023’ with which to guarantee the quality of life of those diagnosed and their families.

“What we are requesting is that the plan be financially endowed in an adequate way, that it not go in the General State Budgets as an item within other sub-items, but that it have the entity it deserves,” he claimed, in statements to Efe , the president of CEAFAMarilo Almagro.

The adequate economic resources for the care of a patient are, in his opinion, “very high” and account for up to 3% of the GDP of Spain, according to a study by the center.

From the Ministry of Health they report that the budget allocated to this strategy, through the distribution of funds to the autonomous communities, was 1,409,035 euros in 2021.

Although there are still “unmet” needs in the community, the director general of biogene in Spain, Sérgio Teixeira, points to a favorable environment for collaboration between all the agents of the health system so that the management of the pathology is as “sustained and agile” as possible.

Globally, each year 10 million new patients are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, responsible for 60% of diagnosed cases of dementia and, according to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), these figures will triple to reach 139 million cases in the year 2050.

The president of CEAFA, Mariló Almagro, in the Congress of Deputies/EFE

It is premature to see the end of the coronavirus pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that it would be premature to terminate the coronavirus pandemic since contagion remains high in many countries and global vaccination has not reached the minimum required.

The director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus/ EFE/EPA/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT/File

“It is too early to claim victory. There are still many countries with low vaccine coverage and there is high transmission” to see the end of the pandemic, he said at a virtual press conference WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Adhanom considered the reduction in contagion globally “encouraging” and that some countries are lifting restrictions, but recalled that the threat of a new variant remains “real” and that the only way to end the pandemic is through vaccination. .

While 56% of the world’s population has already received the complete guideline, in countries with fewer resources that figure is reduced to 9%, when the objective of the who is that it reaches 70% in all states.

“Although omicron is less severe, the number of hospitalized and dead is higher than that of delta, due to its greater volume, due to the accumulated health burden and because the levels of vaccination coverage are insufficient,” he said. the head of the Department of Emerging Diseases, Maria Van Kerkhove.

The adviser to the director of the WHO, Bruce Aylward, recalled that the necessary supply exists to achieve the immunization goal, but that its control is “in very few hands.”

“The only way to achieve global security is with a more equitable distribution,” he said.

The pandemic and its effects on mental health

The WHO recalled that covid-19 has also put a “high toll” on mental health and that the greatest effects for it have been recorded in the areas hardest hit by the virus.

According to a study by this organization, the number of severe depressions increased by 27.6% during the first year of the pandemic, and the number of cases of anxiety, by 25.6%.

For this reason, the WHO highlights the need to take into account mental health and psychological support when dealing with the coronavirus.

Ukraine and the urgent need for a safe corridor

The appearance of Adhanom and other senior WHO officials was also focused on the situation in Ukraine, and included a call for the “urgent need” to establish a safe corridor to facilitate the arrival of medical supplies in the midst of the war with Russia.

The first shipment of medical equipment, transported from Dubai, will arrive in Poland tomorrow and will include specialized medical equipment that could cover the needs of around 150,000 people, the WHO announced.

Adhamom pointed out that there will be more shipments in the coming days and explained that 5.2 million dollars (4.7 million euros in exchange) have already been withdrawn from the WHO emergency fund, but that another 45 million (40 million euros) for the next three months.

“There is some access to material, but given the evolution of the conflict, we fear a worsening of the situation,” said the Director of WHO-Ukraine, Jarno Habicht.

Habicht lamented the impossibility of distributing the medical supplies stored in the WHO warehouses in Kiev, citing the lack of oxygen and medicines and the problems in carrying out the polio vaccination campaign among the concerns.

The WHO also expressed concern about reports of attacks on hospitals and health personnel, although it admitted that so far only one has been confirmed last week.
“The neutrality of hospitals and staff must be respected and protected. To do otherwise would be a violation of international law,” Adhamom said.

97% of health workers feel that medical shifts are poorly paid

Medical shifts are a practice of the profession that requires an extraordinary effort since their shifts are added to the usual working day, as a result of the fatigue derived from the long hours, a situation that worries the medical community

Medical staff of an ICU at the Puerta de Hierro Hospital, in a file photograph. EFE/JuanJo Martin

Nearly 1,000 doctors from 40 specialties have participated in the study ‘Physical and emotional well-being of the doctor: the impact of medical shifts’ made by Medical Mutual.

A report that reflects how shifts affect the health of healthcare professionals and what aspects are of concern to doctors.

“It is necessary to vindicate the physical and emotional well-being of the doctor to guarantee the correct exercise of his profession and that, in this way, he can fulfill his work of caring for his patients in the best way”

explains Antonio López, CEO of Medical Mutual.

The effects of the pandemic

The physical and mental exhaustion produced by shifts and long working hours, especially during the pandemic, they are for 48% of the doctors consulted the most intense.

For 33.4 percent, nothing has changed since before the pandemic, while for 15.75% there are changes.

The report reflects that 61 percent of the doctors make one shift a week, 21% two and 13% more than two.

In the same way, 6 out of 10 doctors perform 24-hour shifts38.7% of 17 hours, and 2 percent exceeds 36 hours of continuous work.

The times between guards may not be the necessary ones, point out the health workers surveyed that 79 percent affirm that they are free but not long enough.

Doctors demand better conditions

Graphic of the Medical Mutual report.

The report reveals that 9 out of 10 on-call doctors feel underpaid, and that their work is not well paid.

For this reason, what is most demanded by health professionals is to quote the guards as in other groups (40%), followed by the claim to work shifts of fewer hours (24%) and improve their economic remuneration (23%).

That 40% that claims a salary increase asks to increase the pay between 25 and 50% more per guard.

34% consider that they should charge more than 50 percent. 6.7 percent demand a limit to weekly shifts.

80 percent of those surveyed say that in case of sick leave and not being able to perform shifts, they see their salary decrease by 20% or more.

Report “Physical and emotional well-being of the doctor: the impact of medical shifts”.

As a solution to their request, 88 percent of those surveyed agree with creating a system that limits the number of hours on duty.

Medical Mutual Report Table.

What is the biggest concern of doctors?

Fatigue has professional and personal consequences for doctors. His work is influenced by his exhaustion, which is why 52% are afraid of making mistakes due to fatigue.

As the data reflects, emotional toughness (23%) and not having the ability to care for patients quickly (7%) are concerns associated with the long working hours of professionals.

16.18% say they are not professionally supported to attend any type of emergency and 7.82% maintain that they cannot quickly attend to the patient due to lack of personnel.Report “Physical and emotional well-being of the doctor: the impact of medical shifts”.

The important role of breakfast for a healthy diet

Within the framework of National Breakfast Day, the Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN) has held an online event to promote healthy breakfast and give the keys to improve it. It is one of the most important meals of the day.

Toast with olive oil/EPA

Breakfast is part of a healthy diet. East provides about 20% of daily energy, so its daily intake is recommended.

The Spanish Nutrition Foundation has compiled a series of data on the ‘Infant-Youth Breakfast in Spain’ to review the “Role of breakfast and its quality in the health of children and adolescents”.

Composition of a good breakfast

Varied, balanced and satisfying are the keys to a healthy breakfast.

According to the latest review carried out by experts, “there is no ideal breakfast but there are many combinations that have to be adapted to personal, geographical and cultural needs and circumstances”.

To comply with this, specialists recommend avoid high-calorie, low-nutrient-dense foods, they only contribute calories, fat, sodium or sugar to the total intake of the day.

Breakfast should include at least three main food groups; a food from the cereal group (preferably whole/whole grain), milk or a milk product and a fruit (preferably whole).

exposes the study.

Nutritional pyramid adapted for children. Photo: IMEO

To complement there is a fourth group such as olive oil, vegetables, nuts, protein foods (eggs, ham, salmon, legumes…).

Combining all this provides the body with complex carbohydrates, fiber, protein, water and an adequate quantity and quality of fat.

Experts also point out that completing our breakfast properly contributes to meeting the needs of vitamins and mineralswithout forgetting the presence of bioactive compounds of great interest for health.

“Consuming a healthy breakfast is associated with higher daily nutrient intake, better adherence to nutritional recommendations, and better overall diet quality.”

points out the FEN

Breakfast for children and adolescents

Several studies have shown how children and adolescents who eat breakfast regularly consume higher amounts of energy, dietary fiber, fruits and vegetables, whole grains and dairy products, and fewer sugary drinks, compared to those who skip this meal of the day.

In addition, those who do eat breakfast have a higher daily intake of some micronutrients such as calcium, iron, folate, potassium, magnesium, zinc and iodine, compared to those who do not eat breakfast.

According to studies, more than half of adolescents ate breakfast as a family (with parents and siblings) and approximately 40% ate breakfast alone. In addition, it was observed that adolescents were one of the population groups that most skipped breakfast.according to the International Breakfast Research Initiative (IBRI).

Another noteworthy fact of the study reflects how children learn eating habits from their parents, grandparents or siblings, as well as from their caregivers and colleagues or friends.

“It has been seen that sharing breakfast with the family in 10-year-old children is associated with a higher frequency of breakfast consumption at 16 years of age.”

Pick up the report.

breakfast in spain

The data obtained from the review cites the ALADINO 2015 study indicating that “93 percent of the participants ate breakfast every day.”

“The most frequent breakfast (49.7%) was a dairy (milk, milkshake or yogurt) plus a food from the cereal group (biscuits, breakfast cereals or bread/toast). Only 2.8% had a quality breakfast (with milk, cereal and fruit)”.

It also mentions the ANIBES survey where “85% of Spaniards were regular breakfast consumers (that is, they had breakfast on the three days evaluated)”.

“A higher proportion of children and older people ate breakfast regularly (93%), followed by adults (84%) and then adolescents (80%).” And only 25% of the Spanish population had a breakfast with sufficient energy and adequate variety or “complete” (20% or more of the total energy ingested and containing three or more food groups). While 38% ate an “incomplete” breakfast (less than 10% of total energy intake and containing one or two food groups).”

experts say.

In addition, the 37% had an “acceptable” breakfast (10-20% of total energy intake and three or more food groups or 20% or more of total energy intake and two food groups).

Infographic from the EFE Agency “Breakfast in Spain”

The study highlights that the food groups least consumed by children and adolescents are cheese and fresh fruit. Just as whole foods were scarce.

Both children and adolescents consumed added sugars (mainly from chocolates, bakery and pastries/cakes) and sugar.

A health risk

Various studies reflect how eating breakfast is related to a lower prevalence of overweight and obesity. Also with a healthier profile of cardiometabolic biomarkers (diabetes, insulin resistance, blood pressure and lipid profile).

Regarding cognitive function, although there is no uniformity in the results either, since the methodology for evaluating school performance is variable and complex, many studies observe that ‘eating breakfast is more beneficial than not having it’, especially in children with a worse situation nutritional and younger.

nutritionists say.

Therefore, healthy breakfast should be part of a daily diet as a main meal.

It is recommended that it be consumed daily, in good proportions and that it be as balanced as possible to allow you to cope with everyday life, as well as help reduce the development of cardiometabolic diseases.

Spain leaves the extreme risk of coronavirus and will address a new surveillance strategy

Spain has come out of the extreme risk of coronavirus transmission by dropping below 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (486), although the total number of deaths already exceeds 100,000. This scenario poses a change in the epidemiological surveillance strategy that will be analyzed on March 10 with the autonomous communities in Zaragoza.

The celebration of the Mobile Word Congress in Barcelona, ​​a reflection of the recovery of normality due to the pandemic. EFE/Enric Fontcuberta

The average number of infections in Spain reached the extreme or very high risk of coronavirus transmission on December 17 and continued to rise until reaching the peak of the sixth wave on Friday, January 21, with 3,418 cases per 100,000 inhabitants after the outbreak of the omicron variant.

After the meeting this afternoon of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System, the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, at a press conference, considered that Spain is “on the right track” and that for that reason the new scenarios must be analyzed epidemiological.

Thus, Darias has announced the holding on March 10 of a meeting in Zaragoza of the Government with the autonomous communities and epidemiological experts to address the global health surveillance strategy and the transition to a new model “jointly” throughout the national territory and in coordination with the European Union.

Asked if there has been a debate about eliminating the mandatory nature of masks indoors (it is no longer mandatory outdoors) and if the proposal to start by removing them in schools, as proposed by Catalonia and Andalusia, has been discussed, the minister has forwarded to the meeting on March 10 in Zaragoza.

“When we go together we advance further, we must work in a rhythmic manner to take firm steps forward”, he added.

The Ministry of Health has decided to change the periodicity, now from Monday to Friday, of the national epidemiological evolution reports. Thus, the vaccination report will be given one day a week from the next and the incidence, infections, deaths and hospital occupation will be issued two days a week from March 14.

The data

The cumulative incidence it has dropped 29 points since yesterday from 515 to 486 cases per 100,000.

Above this extreme risk of transmission of the virus are Galicia, the Canary Islands and Murcia with more than 700 cases; Catalonia and the Basque Country with more than 600 and with more than 500, Aragón, Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León, Extremadura and Navarra.

With less incidence: Melilla (246); Castilla-La Mancha (274), Andalusia (291) and Madrid (297).

By age bracketsthe group between 12 and 19 years old has the highest incidence (742), followed by those between 20 and 29 years old (620).

Health has reported 18,803 infections since yesterday, the lowest daily figure in recent weeks.

Since the start of the pandemic in Spain there are already 11,054,888 coronavirus infections on record.

The positivity rate of diagnostic tests it continues to fall to 17.06%, a few tenths less than yesterday.

Despite the decline in all indicators, the death toll remains high and, since records have been available since the start of the pandemic, 100,037 have been reached this Wednesday, after the 154 most reported since yesterday.

The ucis they are at 9.8% bed occupancy with 902 patients, although they are still at high risk (between 10% and 5%).

In Spanish hospitals, on the ward and ICU, there are 6,188 covid patients (4.9% occupancy) and in a low risk situation (from 5% to 2% of occupied beds).

Vaccines

In total there are 39,062,167 citizens91% of the population over 12 years of age, with the full course of the covid vaccine.

In addition, 24.1 million people have already received the booster dose, 50.9% of the general population.

57.5% of children between 5 and 11 years old (1.8 million out of 3.2 million) have received at least one dose and 19% already have the complete schedule since the campaign started on December 15 pediatric vaccination.

Spain offers 5,000 hospital beds to Ukraine

Spain has offered Ukraine, in the midst of the war over the invasion of Russia, 5,000 hospital beds in all the autonomous communities and medical supplies, medicines and respirators in coordination with the European Union.

The Spanish contribution exceeds that of the surrounding European countries in a gesture of “solidarity” with Ukraine in “times of difficulty and unity”, announced the Minister of Health.