Eight of the 17 Spanish regions report Covid infection rates of under 250 but 146 more fatalities are added to the toll
For the first time since July 7, shortly after the decision was made to make the wearing of facemasks in public optional rather than obligatory, the 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 in Spain dropped below the extreme threshold of 250 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the latest update published by the Ministry of Health on Monday August 30.
Over the course of the weekend a further 15,489 cases of coronavirus were confirmed, taking the total since early last year to almost 4.85 million, but the rate dropped by 22 points from Friday’s figure to 242. Eight out of the country’s 17 regions are now out of “extreme risk” territory, with the lowest 14-day rates reported in Asturias (94), the Canaries (150) and the Comunidad Valenciana (197) and the number also dropping below 250 in Andalucía, Aragón, Catalunya, Murcia and Navarra.
At the other end of the scale are Extremadura (469), Cantabria (330) and La Rioja (320), along with the north African enclaves of Ceuta (546) and Melilla (464).
Among the different age groups in Spain the rates are now below 250 in all sectors over the age of 30 and in under-12s, the lowest figure reported being the 116 in 70- to 79-year-olds. The highest rates are still reported in teenagers (418) and those aged between 20 and 29 (313).
Hospital patients and fatalities
But while case numbers show an encouraging downward trend, the effects of the fifth wave of contagion are easing only gradually in hospitals throughout Spain, and during the weekend the number of Covid patients admitted for treatment dropped only slightly to 7,114, equivalent to 6.1 per cent per cent of all occupied beds. Similarly, the number of Covid patients in intensive care fell to 1,652, accounting for 18 per cent of available beds, and in Catalunya and Madrid the proportions in ICUs are still alarmingly high at 33.7 and 31.7 per cent respectively.
The newly confirmed Covid-related deaths take the official Ministry toll since the pandemic reached Spain to 84,146.
Vaccination data
Following the administration of a further 410,000 doses during the weekend the number of people in Spain who are fully vaccinated against coronavirus has reached 32,811,864, equivalent to 69.1 per cent of the population.
36,3466,563 people have received at least one vaccine dose, equivalent to 76.6 per cent of the population.
Many of those now being vaccinated are in the age groups with the highest incidence rates, and among Spanish teenagers as many as 69.1 per cent have already received their first vaccine dose. However, due to the campaign having only just reached this sector of the population just 25.6 per cent are fully vaccinated.
In the 20-29 age group the equivalent proportions are 72.3 per cent with at least one dose and 56.4 per cent fully vaccinated.
Image: regional health service of the Basque Country
Source: Murcia Today
