Health detects more than one hundred infections in birthday celebrations, extracurricular activities and weddings
After a long period of plateau, the epidemic curve rises again strongly in the Region of Murcia. Since Friday, the cumulative incidence has climbed fourteen points, to 72.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In the last week, the increase exceeds 60%.
The Minister of Health, Juan José Pedreño, warned yesterday of this “significant increase”, which is linked to a series of outbreaks registered especially among children under 12 years of age. This is precisely the only segment of the population that has not yet been vaccinated, as the Ministry remains awaiting authorization from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Specifically, Health closely monitors eleven outbreaks, of which four are associated with birthday parties, Halloween and extracurricular activities. Through these types of social encounters, the virus has managed to sneak into five educational centers in Cartagena, Mazarrón, San Pedro del Pinatar, Los Alcázares and Murcia. There are also two outbreaks originating from weddings in Totana.
Pedreño stressed that educational centers have proven “safe” throughout the pandemic. “It is outside the school environment where these infections are occurring,” he stressed, but from these outbreaks at birthday parties or other celebrations, the virus ends up reaching the classrooms, especially those of Infants, where the mask it is not mandatory.
Incidence data by age group shows that, indeed, children under 12 years of age lead the incidence rate, with 109 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in fourteen days. The next group with the most infections is those aged 40 to 49, with 76 positives per 100,000.
42 new positives
Health yesterday notified 42 new positives corresponding to Sunday in the Region of Murcia, compared to only nine on the same day the previous week. The number of active cases amounts to 870, after an increase of 46.5% in the last week.
López Miras does not see Christmas in danger, although he remembers that the virus is “unpredictable”, which is why he calls for “prudence”
For the moment, however, the situation in hospitals remains stable. 41 Covid patients remain admitted (11 of them in the ICU), compared to 34 hospitalized a week ago. Pedreño highlighted that 84% of those admitted to intensive care units are unvaccinated. Vaccination is also noticeable in the decrease in mortality. The Region yesterday added its fifth consecutive day without notification of deaths from Covid. Regarding the situation by municipalities, Health this week places Mazarrón, Abarán, Los Alcázares, Mula, San Pedro del Pinatar, Torre Pacheco, La Unión and Yecla at alert level 3 (high risk). Another eleven localities are at medium risk, and 26 at low level.
The sixth wave
Asked about the increase in infections, the president of the regional government, Fernando López Miras, yesterday showed his hope that the irruption of a possible sixth wave will not jeopardize Christmas. “The level of immunization of the population, especially in Spain, where there have been high vaccination rates, will not make us reach such a drastic situation,” he said, in statements collected by Europa Press. In any case, “we have to be very cautious and not give respite” to a virus that is “unpredictable”, he warned. The Executive will make “the decisions that are necessary at all times,” he stressed.
For his part, and with the prospect of a new autumn marked by the pandemic, the Minister of Health demanded that a Covid fund be included in the General State Budgets of 2022 for the autonomous communities.
More inspections in nightlife and hospitality
Despite the sharp increase in infections, the Ministry of Health will keep the Region of Murcia at a level 1 alert (low risk) for the time being, without introducing new restrictions. Of course, the counselor announced that Public Health inspections will be strengthened to verify compliance with regulations in nightlife and hospitality venues. The inspectors will influence the correct use of the mask indoors. The norm obliges to use this element of protection at all times, except when it is being consumed. In pubs and discos you have to wear the mask on the dance floor, and to consume you have to sit at the table or bar.
In addition, once authorized by the Superior Court of Justice (TSJ) of the Region, the use of the Covid digital certificate is maintained until December 17 as a requirement to be able to expand the interior capacity to 100% in the field of leisure and celebrations in municipalities that register an alert level 1 (low risk) or 2 (medium). This measure has led to an increase in the issuance of these certificates. Another 28,000 were issued last week.
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