Admissions related to Covid-19 “significantly lower”, with 88 fewer people on wards and seven in ICU
Barcelona, January 23 (European Media) –
According to the latest update from the Catalan Infection Surveillance Information System (Sivic) on Tuesday, the influenza epidemic in Catalonia has “passed the peak of the epidemic” this week and the level of transmission is moderate.
Between January 15 and 21, the incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARI) continued to decrease compared to the previous week, with 730 people affected per 100,000 inhabitants and 57,502 ARI cases registered.
In terms of distribution, influenza was the most common virus (38.9%), followed by rhinovirus (12.3%), SARS-CoV-2 (7.5%) and RSV (5.9%).
In the pediatric population, multiple testing positivity rates also showed influenza to be the most circulating virus (55.7%), a slight increase from the previous week, followed by RSV (4.5%), which continued to decrease.
The peak incidence of influenza epidemics is currently estimated at 284 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and an increase in influenza incidence in children has been detected, which “may indicate, as last year, the beginning of a second influenza peak”.
On the other hand, the RSV wave continues to decline, and the peak incidence is “significantly lower” than last year: the trend towards the end of the current epidemic wave continues, with an estimated incidence of 43 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
On the other hand, 3,217 cases of streptococcal pharyngitis (34.8% of the total number of pharyngitis cases) and 339 cases of scarlet fever have been recorded, and the number of cases of strep throat (41 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) and scarlet fever (4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) The incidence has increased. residents), suggesting a “second wave of epidemics caused by Streptococcus pyogenes.”
Coronavirus disease
It is estimated that the incidence of Covid-19 continues to fall, with 55 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and related incomes have also “declined significantly”.
Specifically, there were 536 Covid-19 patients admitted to traditional hospital beds, 88 fewer than the previous week, and 19 people were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), 7 fewer than the previous week, and the rate continued to decline. Emergency department consultations and the proportion of admissions “expected within these dates”.
In week 52, the Covid-19 JN.1 variant remained “clearly dominant” (96% of the sample).
Vaccination
Covid-19 vaccination coverage is 60% for vulnerable people over the age of 80 and 47% for those aged 70 to 79.
Influenza coverage is higher than Covid-19 in these age groups, at 67% and 55% respectively.