At the end of the year and the beginning of the year, look back on the past. The resurgence of respiratory infections in Catalonia has forced a return to precautions and precautions that were the norm during the worst days of the coronavirus but appear to have become outdated. The Ministry of Health confirmed the “increase in respiratory viruses” and recommended a “responsible and cautious approach” to the most vulnerable groups. Recommendations regarding the use of masks, ventilation of closed spaces, avoidance of social interactions, and increased handwashing are again ongoing measures to mitigate infection. The Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (Semes) has issued a series of recommendations to avoid the spread of respiratory viruses and calls for avoiding kissing. Dr. Joaquín López-Contreras, head of the infectious diseases department at Barcelona’s San Paolo Hospital, admitted that “you cannot open the door to the countryside” but stressed the need to “apply some of the things we have learned during the pandemic”. Pandemic. “”. He believes it is crucial to “protect the most vulnerable” and to respect as much as possible the strict protocols adhered to by hospitals: “If someone feels symptoms of a cold, runny nose and fever, they should avoid visiting patients or patients who are being treated in hospital.” Doctors stressed that it had been a “difficult few weeks” and warned that a rebound in infections could have an impact on emergency services and hospitalizations.
Mireia Puig, president of the Catalan Society of Emergency Medicine (SoCMUE), said in a statement that activity in Catalan hospital emergency rooms was estimated to have increased by about 20% between December 23 and last Thursday. To Effie. “Respiratory infections have increased fivefold in three weeks. They are affecting the most vulnerable populations and putting a lot of pressure on health care,” said infectious disease specialist Robert Güerri, chief of infectious disease services at Del Mar Hospital. The causes of the “epidemic wave” Saloud describes are diverse. , but they are associated with significant increases in viral circulation, particularly influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which are responsible for the vast majority of infant bronchiolitis cases. In turn, the incidence of COVID-19 has stabilized.in statement RAC1Dr. Güerri points out that even drought can affect the spread of the disease: “No rain can cause the virus to spread more, and cold and dry conditions can also weaken the respiratory tract and promote transmission.”
The latest data on healthcare activity provided by the health department corresponds to last week, with an increase of 5.3% in seven days, and an increase of 11.4% if the previous month is taken into account. There are nearly 6,000 emergencies in primary care every day. The health department insists that health centers are “currently operating normally”, but the active spread of the virus and the rapid increase in the number of infections warn that primary health centers and hospitals may be saturated.
“Last month, I sold four or five combined COVID-19 and influenza test kits in my pharmacy. So far in December, we have almost 300 inches, this is what pharmacist Antoni Torres told El Pais this Friday when asked Tough attitude. “More flu. This is a flu that knocks you over the edge. People are worried and telling us,” said the businessman at the 24-hour pharmacy on Barcelona’s Aribau Street.
If last year’s Christmas obsession was the contagion of the coronavirus, we must avoid influenza A these holidays. In fact, former Barcelona City Council member Rosa Alarcón left the city council last summer after claiming she suffered from a strange illness known as Megue’s Syndrome – contracting influenza A Later, she was hospitalized for several days in the Hebron Valley Hospital (as she posted on social networks). Alarcon admitted on social networks that she did not get a flu shot this fall. Out of laziness,” which led to her hospitalization over the holidays.
Flu patients are flooding into outpatient clinics and hospitals in the Catalan capital. El Pais visited outpatient clinics in Barcelona, the Gothic Quarter and Laval Norte, as well as the Hospital Del Mar and the University Hospital of Texas. On top of that, there are patients in the emergency room with flu symptoms. At Dexeus, where they receive health care, everyone entering the emergency room must wear a mask. “I was feeling bad these days and had a lot of runny nose, so I came to check my gearbox,” said Miguel, 70, ironically about to race at CAP Barcelona.
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“I don’t think we are saturated, but these are difficult days. In addition to the flu and the coronavirus, there are nurses on strike and medical staff on leave,” admits Anna Romagosa, director of Cap Raval Nord. Romagosa revealed that they had to allocate three toilets and the only nurse at the center (this Friday) to respond to emergencies, “99%” of which are caused by coronavirus or influenza A.
Hospital de Mar ensures that there are no vacant beds in the medical center and has added approximately 40 beds at Hospital de la Esperanza. “We are facing tremendous pressure from influenza and COVID-19 patients. In addition, such users need to be quarantined, which makes the infrastructure more complex.” said a spokesperson for the center. All health centers consulted by El País said this was not an abnormality for the time of year but rather that Christmas lunches and dinners triggered infections.
Catalan health technicians call for indefinite strike starting January 8
The Federation of Health Technicians and Professionals (FTPS), together with the Union of Nursing Technicians (Sae) and the National Union of Senior Health Technicians (Sietess), have called for an indefinite strike in Catalonia starting on January 8, “to Ending Labor and Economic Inequality” impacts this group.
In a statement this Friday, they assured that after their last meeting with the Catalan Institute of Health (ICS), they were informed that the team’s “remuneration will not improve” as the ICS agreement has ended .
“We don’t understand why an agreement was signed that excludes some health professionals,” they said. That’s why they called for an indefinite strike starting on January 8.
They criticized that “this left-wing government would rather leave citizens without health care than respect and recognize the rights of senior health technicians and nursing technicians.”
Likewise, they are calling for a demonstration this Saturday at 5pm in Barcelona’s Francisco Massia Square to protest against what they see as the government’s “lack of commitment” to this group of patients, whom they claim are vital for diagnosing, monitoring and treating patients.
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