Spain's Health dept calls for extreme social distancing

Health department warns that the peak of the outbreak is approaching and calls for extreme social distancing


The Ministry of Health has announced that the maximum peak of coronavirus infections in Spain is near and has stressed the importance of "strict" compliance with the measures of the state of alarm and "social distancing".
"The hardest moments are coming (...) in these days we will reach the peak" of infections, recognized this Thursday the minister Salvador Illa, who has stressed that the main objective of the government is "to reach the peak, to break it, to start to descend and to defeat" the coronavirus.
He agreed with what was said just a few minutes earlier by the director of the Center for Coordination of Emergencies and Health Alerts, Fernando Simon: "Cases are increasing every day. This does not indicate that we are doing badly, but that we are probably, little by little, approaching that maximum peak" of the contagion curve. He went on to stress the importance of "social distancing".
Illa appeared with the Vice President of the Government's Social Agenda, Pablo Iglesias, while Simón reported on developments following the meeting of the technical committee monitoring the coronavirus.
Spain has exceeded this Thursday the 17,300 infections of coronavirus, about 15,200 are active, 25% more than the previous day, so the curve of cases remains unchanged. The number of deaths with COVID-19 is now over 800, but more than 1,100 people have also been discharged since the beginning of the crisis.
"We understand that the growth rate will decrease, but we have to keep up the tension" and "make sure that the measures will have to be implemented as effectively as possible," continued Simon, who insisted that "reaching that peak and starting to turn the other way is the first objective".
"Let's hope it's in a few days", although, in any case, the maximum peak "cannot be too far away", stressed the expert, who again stressed that the groups at risk must "protect themselves more" than the rest and the others must "help" the former to protect themselves "more and better".


What is the age profile of those infected by coronavirus?


33% of those infected are over 65, while cases over 75 are 18%, according to Ministry data. Simon explained that the age distribution "is not very homogeneous throughout the territory. The virus has affected some homes for the elderly in different localities particularly harshly, leaving almost 70 dead, and there are regions with older populations than others.
With respect to residential deaths, there are no differences from other countries. Given the risk profile of those living in them, the Health Department has announced that it is working on an order to make the current protocol for residences stricter.

Are people under 65 at risk?


Of those infected with COVID-19, 32% develop "severe pneumonia," Simon said. The Health Department has counted three deaths in people under 65, although it has not detailed whether they had previous pathologies, which would have led them to be in a risk group.
This Thursday a nurse from the Basque Health Service died of coronavirus at the age of 53, the first Osakidetza professional to die since the COVID-19 crisis was declared. It has not been detailed, however, whether she had any previous illness or health problem.
Also on Wednesday, the death of a 37-year-old civil guard who had no previous pathologies and who, according to the Unified Association of Civil Guards, was serving "normally" before becoming infected, was announced.

When will the rapid tests and a vaccine be available?


Simon has announced the "immediate" implementation of rapid tests to detect the virus also in mild cases, which will be done in a matter of "10 or 15 minutes", although they will have to be performed by qualified professionals. These tests "can substantially increase the number of positive cases", but will give a more accurate picture of the distribution of cases.
He also explained that there are several trials with new drugs, some in Spain, and that several international groups are also working on finding a vaccine, with "fairly promising" results, but that they are in the early stages of research. There is still time for it to exist, as its safety and the companies' production and distribution capacity must be guaranteed.

What measures and reinforcements are being made by Healthcare?


Illa has announced new measures carried out by its portfolio to tackle the coronavirus. Apart from the new protocol order for the residences, a transfer of 210 million euros to the autonomous communities has been ordered.
It has also announced a reinforcement of the health system with the incorporation of more than 30,000 professionals and medical students: 8,000 MIR - resident doctors - in the fourth and fifth year, 11,000 nurses who had not reached a place and 10,000 nursing students and 7,000 medical students in the final years. He also announced that private health facilities had been made available to the health advisors of each region.

Source:
https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20200319/sanidad-avisa-pico-maximo-del-brote-coronavirus-se-aproxima-pide-extremar-distanciamiento-social/2010370.shtml