Valencian Community R number falls below 1 with as no new measures announced

The Valencian Community has today extended its territorial border closure – as well as municipal border closure of Elda and Petrer in Alicante – but not announced any extra restrictions.

Friday is the day when sweeping COVID-19 announcements are made in the Valencian Community – today, for the first time in a long time, the update hasn’t made any headlines.

Today’s decree in the Diari Oficial de la Generalitat Valenciana (DOGV) has extended the territorial border closure until 9th December.

The municipal borders of Elda and Petrer also remain closed until 9th December.

As you can see in BayRadio’s COVID-19 map of the Valencian Community below, these twinned cities have an accumulated incidence above 600 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/qrzIn/4/

No new restrictions

But that’s it.

Despite wild speculation about new lockdowns and municipal border closures, COVID-19 cases are beginning to stabilise in the Valencian Community under current measures.

The Valencian region (Alicante, Valencia and Castellón) saw its ‘R’ infection rate fall below 1 at the beginning of November.

Data from Spain’s main health research centre – the Instituto de Salud Carlos III – shows the R number was at 0,84 on 11th November, as of most recent statistics. Source.

Hospital admissions have increased significantly since mid-October – but the most up-to-date graphs are also showing a levelling-off in cases.

Hospitalised patients hit a second-wave peak of 1,661 on 15th November, while intensive care patients (UCI) hit a peak of 285 on 17th November.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the president of the Valencian Community said we are not yet in ‘de-escalation’.

“We must maintain the same precaution, diligence and responsibility,” he said.

He urged Valencians to buy their Christmas presents ‘early’ – but did not outline any new or potential restrictions.

“At these times I don’t see us relaxing measures just yet, honestly, but once we get to 9th December we will evaluate current measures,” he concluded.

Check the list of current restrictions – brought in on 6th November – here.

Check the 11 exemptions to the Valencian Community’s border closure here.

BayRadio have also created a map showing the accumulated incidence (cases per 100,000 over 14 days) for each of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities, including current restrictions.

https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/rngpJ/3/