The has broken all the forecasts of infections of this sixth wave of the pandemic. January According to the data collected by the Ministry of Health, the region, almost triple that in December, when 25,911 cases were registered. Despite the fact that the data shows that the sixth wave is being a true tsunami in terms of infections, the hospital pressure under control and the mortality figures (although they have been high in recent days), are proof that the Vaccines have fulfilled their mission also against omicron. The worst of this wave, which has not yet ended, continues to be in primary care, overwhelmed for two months.
If we compare with other previous waves, the months with the most cases had been registered in July 2021 (10,991 cases) during the so-called “young wave” and in November 2020 (12,310 cases), in the middle of the second wave. Some data that were already duplicated last December, and that in January have skyrocketed. In short, the sixth wave has added more infections in Asturias during these two months than all the cases recorded up to that moment during the entire pandemic.
The most negative facet of the pandemic is offered, once again, by the mortality figures. In January, Asturias registered 143 deaths with covid, double that of the previous month. Despite the hardness of the figure, the comparison with other moments of the pandemic in which many fewer cases were registered, continues to be favourable. In November 2020, the worst of the second wave, the region recorded 597 deaths in one month. If we talk about incidents, all records have also been broken in this wave. On January 21, the Principality exceeded 4,000 cases per hundred thousand inhabitants in the incidence registered at 14 days. Unthinkable figures just a few months ago. Fortunately, the sixth wave is beginning to subside in the region. Even so, the decline is being slow, so there are still a few weeks left with a high number of cases.
How do I know then if I have had covid?
Actually there are few options. If there are no symptoms, it is absurd to undergo a antigen test because experts consider that the viral load would be so low that it would be negative in this type of test. In the same way, PCR tests can detect the slightest presence of viruses alive in the body by tracing its RNA but it doesn’t help much if the infection has happened a long time ago and the patient has already overcome it.
Finally, there are only the antibody tests. Unlike the rest, these tests do not look for or detect the virus but the antibodies that the immune system generates when exposed to infection. In theory, a person who tested positive in these tests would have passed the disease except in the current context: more than 90% of the population vaccinated.
Vaccinated people are also protected by antibodies but not by exposure to the disease but by the vaccine. That is why they would also test positive for antigens.
1. What COVID viral strain is currently circulating in Spain?
Almost all of the circulating COVID viruses at the moment are of the omicron variety (highly contagious, but with a mild prognosis). The Delta variety is already circulating very little (less contagious but more capable of giving serious complications).
2. Who has been infected since the beginning of December until now with one of these two COVID variants?
Half of Spaniards have already been infected with absolute certainty (23 million people), and we will end January-February with 80%-90% of Spaniards infected. It’s unstoppable.
3. Are the symptoms of this new sixth wave serious?
The vast majority are mild, very mild or even infections without symptoms. This is mainly due to two reasons:
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The omicron variant is highly contagious, but not very severe.
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93% of Spaniards are correctly vaccinated, and both viral variants (omicron and delta ) respond very well to the protection offered by the vaccine
4. Who are now the people most likely to be admitted to the Hospital Floor due to serious complications from COVID?
There are four groups of patients:
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Those over 80 years old
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Those for any reason (cancer, chemotherapy, AIDS, etc.)
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People with significant chronic pathologies (diabetes, COPD, neuropathies, etc.)
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The people that They have not been vaccinated or have not received all the doses recommended for their age
5. Who are the people who are now needing admission to the UCIS due to very serious, or even fatal, complications of COVID?
80% of the people admitted right now in all the ICUs in Spain belong to this minority group of 7% of the unvaccinated population.
The remaining 20% of those admitted to the UCIS correspond to correctly vaccinated people, but with a lower response to the vaccine: individuals with chronic pathologies, immunosuppressed or advanced age.
Almost all those admitted to the UCIS are infected with the Delta variety.
6. Has the way of approaching the suspicion of contagion by COVID changed?
Yes. Since last December 29 there is a new national protocol that is based on an indisputable reality:
The Primary Care and Hospital health services cannot attend to 23 million Spaniards with COVID AT THE SAME TIME, and another 23 million who are contacts of the above.
We are collapsed.
Not even with the entire toilet staff it would be possible to attend to all Spaniards at the same time; much less with a very significant percentage of doctors and nurses on sick leave due to COVID, who cannot be replaced because there is no one left in Spain to hire.
7. What do I do if I am a contact of a person who has tested positive, but I do not have symptoms and, in addition, I am correctly vaccinated?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. You do not have to do anything.
- You do not have to take a test at the Health Centerd.
- No you have to go to the doctor to tell it.
- No You have to go to the pharmacy to do an antigen test.
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AND No you have to stay at home keeping quarantine (much less sick leave).
Keep doing your normal life, and don’t forget the mask.
8. Yes, doctor. But I am not very calm. Also, I have a slight itch in my throat. I prefer to go to the pharmacy and take a test.
Well. It’s your decision. If it gives you negative, do what was said above. If it tests positive… you have just earned seven days of isolation at home (with or without sick leave, as the case may be).
But you do not need to come to the Health Center to confirm the positivity of the antigen tests at the pharmacy. If they test positive, you are positive.
As much as you insist, we are not going to ask you for a confirmatory PCR. I’m sorry. Final point.
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