The Government has given the green light in a Extraordinary Council of Ministers the measures announced by Pedro Sanchez after the Conference of Presidents held to analyze the progress of the sixth wave from coronavirus pandemic: accelerate the vaccination campaign, the return of the mask to outdoor spaces and the reinforcement of human resources.
Carolina Darias has called for “caution”, especially in the face of Christmas celebrations “moments of meeting with our loved ones” although he has assured that “we are not in the same situation as last Christmas due to the high vaccination coverage that we have” although he qualifies: “It is very important not to lower your guard“.
Darias has ended her speech with a message of recognition to health workers, after the controversial statements by Isabel Díaz Ayuso who blamed some for the “collapse” suffered by Primary Care. “For his permanent commitment, always, but especially in this time of pandemic,” said Darias, who thanked the public for “exemplary behavior.”
Regarding the objectives set with the new measures adopted we detail:
Accelerate the vaccination campaign
The deadlines set by the Executive in this new ’round’ of punctures against the coronavirus are the following:
- Have 80% of the population over 60 years with the booster vaccine before the end of 2021
- Have 80% of the population aged 50 to 59 years with the third dose in the week of January 24
- Having 80% of the population aged 40 to 49 with the third puncture in the first week of March
- Regarding pediatric vaccination, the objective set is to reach 70% of the first dose on February 7 and the second dose on April 18, since the interval between the two is 8 weeks.
Darias has assured that “We have enough vaccines. We are not in the previous phase in which the vaccines were arriving “and he adds:” We have 8 million vaccines in the fridge and for the year 2022 we have 90 million doses under contract. “
Return of the masks abroad
The Government has recovered the obligation to use the masks in outdoor spaces in people over 6 years of age to contribute to the reduction of the transmission capacity against the virus. The minister insisted that this measure is “temporary” until “the situation improves.”
Exceptions for the use of the mask in outdoor spaces are while doing sports, in the field in solitude, or on the beach with partners or as long as the safety distance can be kept.
Reinforcement of human resources
The Executive has announced that it will empower the health centers to be able to hire retired medical and nursing professionals, maintaining retirement and hiring benefits on an exceptional basis so that they can hire professionals with degrees not obtained in the EU but who have a report from the evaluation committee in accordance with the regulations.
In addition, it is made available to the CCAA 150 mobile vaccination teams of the armed forces and also the hospitals of the military health network as additional vaccination centers.
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