Covid-19 admissions continue to fall, with 220 patients now in traditional hospital beds
Barcelona, February 20 (European Media) –
Influenza transmission in Catalonia remains at “basic” levels since the end of the epidemic last week, according to the latest update from the Catalan Infection Surveillance Information System (Sivic) on Tuesday.
Between February 12 and February 18, the influenza incidence rate was 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, with the incidence rate in the pediatric population remaining at “baseline” levels.
Acute respiratory infections (ARI) remain “stable” at baseline, with 575 people affected per 100,000 inhabitants and 45,319 ARI cases registered.
From the perspective of virus distribution, “viruses that cause common colds dominate”, with rhinovirus being the most common (24.8%), followed by human coronavirus (13.2%), metapneumovirus (8.6%) and RSV (5.3 %), while SARS-CoV -2 represented 1.3% of samples.
In the pediatric population, positive multiple test results showed influenza A virus to be the most circulating virus (14.1%), followed by adenovirus (5.3%) and RSV (4.1%).
RSV has recorded a “slight increase” and the estimated incidence rate is 30 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, so it remains below basic levels. The epidemic wave is considered to be over, and pneumonia diagnosed in primary care maintains a “clear downward trend”.
On the other hand, 4,164 cases of strep pharyngitis (37% of total pharyngitis) and 430 cases of scarlet fever have been recorded, and the number of strep throat (53 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) and scarlet fever (5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) The incidence has increased. residents), the “second wave of epidemics caused by Streptococcus pyogenes” continues.
Coronavirus disease
The estimated incidence of Covid-19 is at a low level, at 8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and associated hospital admissions have also declined.
Specifically, 220 Covid-19 patients were admitted to traditional hospital beds, 27 fewer than the previous week, and 8 were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), one more than the previous week, which also remained within the expected range. Proportions of emergency department visits and admissions.
In week 7, the Covid-19 JN.1 variant “remained clearly dominant” (88.9% of samples).
Vaccination
Covid-19 vaccination coverage is 61% for vulnerable people over the age of 80 and 48% for those aged 70 to 79.
Influenza coverage is higher in these age groups than Covid-19, at 68% and 55% respectively.