It’s hard to find healthy people after Christmas. “The doctor told me I had the flu,” said a woman at the door of Madrid’s Darroca health center, her voice barely audible. “I have a cold,” another explained.
After Christmas, many people are infected with respiratory viruses, either Influenza, COVID-19, or syncytial virus. “Almost everyone in my wife’s family is sick, has a cough, a cold, or starts pneumonia,” another man who accompanied his wife to a doctor’s appointment told us.
A resurgence of respiratory viruses and staff shortages have left many health centers overcrowded. More infections detected. According to health data released on Thursday, which includes virus incidence rates from November 24 to 28, influenza This is the most commonly treated type of virus in primary care. Not only is there more care, but hospitalizations are also up, affecting people of all ages.
“Just this night There are many people in the emergency room “Many people are hospitalized,” explains Pilar Martiz, a nurse at the Álvaro Cunqueiro hospital in Vigo and a member of SATSE. “In fact, some communities, such as Madrid, are using these dates to remember that the influenza vaccination campaign is starting on October 16th.
emergency, saturation
But not only are flu rates increasing, so are coronavirus infections, particularly affecting children under one year old. Urgent care is growing rapidly. On December 26, nursing records in multiple hospitals were broken.In Vigo, the record was broken for the second time in a month 578 Emergency Services. The last record was on December 11.
But on the same day, the 26th, after Christmas Eve, the hospital in Castile-La Mancha also broke a record; 4,000 emergency services, mainly caused by respiratory viruses. At the Central University Hospital of Asturias, 503 patients in a single dayOn the 26th, 18 people were admitted, thus exceeding the previous limit of patients admitted to the emergency room. On the 11th (also after three holidays), the number of patients admitted to the emergency room was 493 adults.
Hospital managers talk about “High occupancy rate“, but They deny collapse. Incidence rates are increasing and are expected to continue to increase as New Year’s Eve is still ahead and gatherings in homes and enclosed spaces will increase, meaning more exposure.
So the solution is clear: Take many precautions to avoid infection. AMYTS primary care spokesperson Dr. Susana Rodríguez de Cos advises that it is important to use a mask and “not share personal belongings with anyone and do not shake hands or kiss if you have symptoms.” Who insists on seeing the doctor only in emergencies. “You just have to live with severe symptoms, such as shortness of breath, a severe cough or a high fever that lasts for several days,” he explains.
If we are sick or experiencing symptoms, it is best to avoid family gatherings to avoid a bad start to the new year. “If you have symptoms, Unable to visit family“summarizes Aida Deudero, Director of the Emergency Room at Teknon Medical Center in Barcelona.