Hospital admissions for COVID-19 pass 450 in Catalonia, but growth slows | Catalonia

“Many of the Covid patients we’re taking are hospitalized for other conditions, and the virus is detected once admitted.” The coronavirus continues to grow slightly in Catalonia, but has had less of an impact on the day-to-day work of hospitals. Professionals from two hospitals in Barcelona replied: “We still don’t have to open specific wards for the corona virus”. According to the latest update from the Catalan Infection Surveillance Information System (Sivic), the General Ministry of Health has registered 453 hospitalizations, a 3% increase from the previous week but far from the accelerated growth seen last week. moon. “Symptoms are usually mild,” they admit. In the ICU, the situation is still under full control: 13 people in the entire community who are critical of the coronavirus.

The spread of the virus increased a month ago. Infectious diseases have increased, but are still at a controllable level. The coronavirus infection rate is estimated at 111 per 100,000 inhabitants, the highest in 2023, according to the health department. However, the increase in infection rates has also led to the infiltration of the virus into hospitals, but most centers have maintained the same structure as in past months. They insisted: “Patients with major medical conditions are in their corresponding inpatient wards and not in specific Covid-19 wards.”

76% of hospitalized patients were over 60 years old.

The only novelty is face masks, which have been changed from mandatory to recommended: “Lessons learned during the pandemic point to the need for enhanced use of face masks in certain situations and circumstances,” the document states. Covid-19 after the health emergency is over

, prepared by the Ministry of Health. The background and circumstances of what he says are scarcely detailed, and even in the context of slight growth like the current one, the address of the center assumes an internal organization. Regardless, nursing stress was milder than a year ago, but was at its highest level since mid-January.

The virus continues to affect the older population: Although the impact has been limited, 76% of patients currently admitted to the hospital are over the age of 60. The number of patients in the ICU remains below 15, and no week in 2023 will see more than 30 beds filled.

SARS-CoV-2 is the most common respiratory infection of the currently circulating viruses, accounting for 35.2% of cases, followed by rhinoviruses (14.1%) and parainfluenza viruses (9.4%). Like other respiratory infections, the weekly infection rate for the coronavirus surpassed 100 cases per 100,000 residents for the first time this year and remains on an upward trend. However, all of these remain at low transmission levels.

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The report also noted that confirmed cases of impetigo were on the decline, with 32 cases per 100,000 inhabitants this week, adding that 2,118 cases of strep throat had been detected, accounting for 30% of the total number of pharyngitis cases, and 35 A case of scarlet fever. With regard to all-cause hospital emergencies, mortality rates for all age groups were again within expected levels, and no changes in mortality rates were noted.

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