This Christmas was the first without restrictions in Spain since the start of the pandemic. Family reunions and reunions increase the risk of contagion and this is why experts warn that, after the Christmas holidays, the incidence of Covid will increase.
This was confirmed by the epidemiologist José Félix Hoyos in ‘La Sexta’. The expert explained it if new Covid variants start to spread, “it is possible that there are a large number of cases, more hospitalizations and deaths.” However, he believes the situation will not be as “dramatic” as in the more complicated moments of the pandemic.
The risk lies, as he explains, in the largest vaccine leak of the new variantsS. One of them, recently detected, is XBB.1.5, a more contagious Omicron points out that has been nicknamed “Kraken” and already accounts for about 40% of cases in the United States compared to 20% just days ago. . In Spain, for the moment, only three cases of this subvariant have been recorded: two in Euskadi and one in Catalonia.
The problem with new strains of the virus that are “more virulent” is that infected patients will suffer “harder pictures”warns Daniel López Acuña, former WHO director of health care.
Can a new wave reach Spain after the explosion of infections in China?
The explosion of infections in the Asian country has set off an alarm bell in the rest of the world. The epidemiologist Quique Bassat explained to ‘Julia en la Onda’ the keys to a powerful broadcast in China. First, China ended its ultra-restrictive “Covid 0” policy, and going from that to “open bar” has caused infections to skyrocket.
Also, the low vaccination rate and natural immunization of the population, as well as the low efficacy of Chinese vaccines, constitute “the perfect storm” for the crisis China is experiencing, Bassat said.
But, Can the huge transmission from China reach Spain? José Félix Hoyos called for calm: “Surveillance yes, shielding no because the risk is not very high”.
Finally, the experts agree strengthen vaccination every year It is the most effective way to protect the population, other than the use of masks.
