The Department of Health is looking at removing the mandatory nature of face coverings in health and social care centers next week if the downward trend in respiratory infections continues, but the decision will “always” be based on “technical criteria” and “prudentness”.
Despite improvements in the situation of various resources, some hospitals in the Valencian community continued to be saturated on Wednesday due to a surge in influenza and COVID-19 cases.
The UGT and CCOO unions reported to elDiario.es that there were 48 patients waiting to be admitted in Alzira in the morning. In Gandia, they treat about 300 patients a day in the emergency room, a number that is quite high and equal to the number of patients treated in the summer when the city is crowded with tourists. Six people were admitted to Sagunto Hospital, which could not be admitted the previous day due to a lack of beds and a full intensive care unit. In the morning, there were 11 patients waiting to be admitted to La Fe de València, five of whom already had assigned beds. In order not to overcrowd the emergency area, patients are distributed between UTM (medical technology department), PACU (post-anesthesia care unit), chairs, adult observation rooms and bed areas. In Elche, hospitals are already overcrowded and there have been no emergency admissions since Tuesday.
Faced with this situation, Rosa Atiénzar, Secretary General of the CCOO in charge of health affairs, commented that “the pressure on care is reducing in some health departments, but in Alzira, Gandia The pressure on care in hospitals such as Gandia or Sagunto remains,” which is why she insisted “public health needs to be strengthened with more staff to cope with the increased demand that always occurs at this time of year. They also asked the UGT to “increase the application of structural workforce and strengthening modules to improve the health system.” ”
Health Minister Marciano Gómez stressed on Wednesday that the incidence of both cases had fallen for the third consecutive week – from 1,318.7 cases at the beginning of 2024 to 1,297.4 the previous week and back again. to 1,035 cases this week. Hospital pressure has dropped 7.5 percentage points over the past seven days.
He commented that if the Valencian community was at a plateau in the incidence rate of the infection curve last week, then according to the latest data update, “we are already in a downward trend, and there seems to be a slow and gradual decline.” Morbidity rates have dropped significantly and nursing pressure is falling. ”
That way, they will reconsider mandatory mask use next week if “there is a moderately significant drop in incidence rates, coupled with lower pressure on health care and fewer infections in certain age groups.” ” In these areas, this is a recommendation, not an obligation. However, he insisted that the decision will always be taken based on two criteria: “The first is to listen to the opinions of the technical people, and the second is to be cautious.” ”