Galicia flu decline for two consecutive weeks, masks will remain mandatory

Galicia today Second community in Spain with the lowest incidence of acute respiratory diseases after the Balearic Islands

. According to data collected in the last bulletin, in the second week of January (8th to 14th), there were 460.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, which is half of the average number of cases registered in Spain of 926.6. Surveillance System for Acute Respiratory Infections (Sivira) of the Carlos III Health Institute. All infections are declining, including influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus.And, more importantly, it does second week in a rowThis period has been marked by the Ministry of Health to allow communities to lift the obligation to wear masks in health centres.

Six other communities also meet the criteria for this continuous decline, although they have much higher incidence rates than Galicia: Asturias (1,147.7), Cantabria (1,161.2), Castile Leon (1,093.9), Catalonia (921.7), Valencian Community (1,297.6) and Madrid (827.7). Paradoxically, the least affected autonomous province, the Balearic Islands (289.4), does not qualify as the number of cases in the archipelago rebounded slightly last week.

Does this data mean masks will no longer be mandatory in Galicia? no.This is the nuance required by the Ministry of Health to show that the number of cases has dropped for two weeks in a row Must be considered after notification of the order from the Ministry of Health, that was January 9 last year. As a result, the time to remove the mask will be extended by another week.

“Next week, data such as incidence, trends, positivity rates, hospital admissions and vaccination rates will be assessed. Based on this assessment, decisions will be taken,” they noted from Sanidade, who noted Decisions will be made based on technical criteria“different from ministries.”

But this request seems not to have been taken into account castile and leon (1,093.9), the company announced From Thursday, taxes will be reduced to recommended levels. This is something a government committee agrees with, insisting that it meets the conditions set by the Ministry of Health, although the latest Sivira report shows the opposite, as it only points to a reduction of one week. The reported incidence rate in the last week of 2023 was 1,246 cases, while it rose to 1,261.8 cases in the first week of 2024 and 1,093.9 cases in the second week.

As far as the flu is concerned, all indicators are showing a very favorable rating, and the trend seems unlikely to change.The current situation in the community is «low intensity» The positivity rate (the percentage of cases detected based on tests performed) is 15%, half what it was two weeks ago and well below the national average of 37.3%.

On the last day, 590 adult patients were treated in Galicia, compared with 2,700 two weeks ago.At this time there is 514 patients admitted to hospital There were 1,896 people on December 31, including 491 in the ward, a decrease of 38 from the previous day, and 23 in the ICU, a decrease of 3. On the last day of last year, 42 people were admitted to intensive care units with influenza.

Regarding COVID-19, 689 people are actively infected, of whom 162 are hospitalized and 2 are in intensive care.

Spain overall shows signs of stabilization

Overall, the new data from the Carlos III Health Institute shows ‘Signs of stability’ The highest incidence of respiratory tract infections in health centers was among children under 1 year old (3,951.8), followed by groups 1-4 (1,819.5).

In hospitals, the global severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) incidence rate has dropped to 28.4, Almost seven points less higher than the previous week (35.2). In this case, the highest cumulative income is among those over 80 years old (221.3), followed by those under one year old (27.6).

Taking into account every infection, influenza confirmed its decline, with primary care declining for the second consecutive week and the decline in influenza activity also consolidating across all communities after leaving its mark. Peak in the last week of 2023“The intensity is high compared to previous seasons.”

The flu hospitalization rate has dropped to 10.6, down 4 percentage points from the start of the year (14.9), breaking a trend seen in recent weeks. Broken down by age, the highest number was among adults 80 or older (79.4), although the number was lower than the previous week.

As far as he is concerned, Coronavirus disease The primary care incidence rate also fell to 86.8 (from 105.8 a week ago), with children under one year old having the highest incidence rate at 509.9.

This situation was replicated in the hospital center, where the incidence rate dropped from 4.8 to 3.2 cases. The highest proportions were found among children under one year old (24.1) and those over 80 years old (24.5).

In terms of RSV, the primary care sector increased by 10 points (74.5, compared with 64 a week ago), with an even greater increase for infants under one year old (1,147.3), followed closely by infants from, but so far Not nearly enough. 1 to 4 (223.9).

But in hospitals, case numbers continue to fall, with 4.8 cases now registered, compared with 5.8 in the first week of the year. The highest incidence rate was found in children under one year old (56.2).

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