Emergencies related to COVID-19 and influenza continue to increase in province

The arrival of winter is always synonymous with influenza, and this seasonal virus has made a strong return to the province of Almeria this year. In fact, health department sources told this newspaper that during the festive period, primary health care centers in some parts of the region saw a 15% increase in emergencies due to influenza and coronavirus infections. Because yes, COVID-19 is still a part of our lives, even though many people think “it’s no longer dangerous.”

The reality is that today the incidence of both conditions is “very high” and “everything is reflected” in primary care. Therefore, they believe “there is a certain degree of saturation.” Infections are increasing massively and we are seeing a lot of patients, but there is no difference between influenza, COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. “Measurement testing has been done, but treatment is the same: plenty of fluids, fever reducers, paracetamol and ibuprofen,” they explained.

Sometimes flu peaks occur after the end of the year, or even in late January, but this year health workers recognized “it hit us over Christmas”. In this case, the Andalusian Health Directorate reminds and asks citizens to go to health centers in the morning. “Some people go to primary care emergency rooms or hospitals for common problems that can be addressed by their family doctor. At the health center, everyone who arrives is treated, even without an appointment,” SAS insists.

Last winter was “very unusual” because of the “mass” vaccinations, but preventive medicine and public health expert José Martínez Olmos believes that while January is usually the month with the highest incidence, “It’s not surprising at all, considering we have a logical behavior at this time of year, that there has now been a peak.

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“We are experiencing a Christmas that is more than usual, and it is normal for the number of infections to increase. The Constitution Bridge is an example, which has played a huge positive role,” Martinez Olmos said, emphasizing that the problem is ” Vaccination coverage is low”. Data shows that in Spain, only 60% of the population over the age of 80, considered a vulnerable group, has been vaccinated this season.

The expert stressed that apparently “the subjective feeling in society is that the new coronavirus does not cause serious health problems, so the situation may be alleviated after vaccination this winter.”

Given the lack of vaccinations for citizens, last week the SAS called on all people over 60 to get the coronavirus and flu jabs, even without an appointment. The vaccine is “easily available, effective and safe.”