COVID-19

SPAIN was said to be “creeping” back towards a level of Covid-19 considered to be an “extreme risk” according to statistics. The countrywide figures show the 14-day cumulative number has risen to more than 174 of cases per 100,000 people – used as a benchmark, experts rule that the 250 threshold signifies the extreme risk barrier. The central health ministry in Madrid ruled the new growth in infections is “sustained […]

THE regional government in Valencia has hired a private firm to process and collect more than 94,000 fines handed out for breaking Covid-19 health rules. The Department of Justice, in charge of the process, awarded a €1.7 million contract to the management experts and the move has been ratified by the regional parliament. The sanctions cover all three provinces and a backlog continues to grow inprocessing and collecting the money. […]

THE fallout from halting the vaccination programme using the AstraZeneca shot on people aged under 60 is continuing to spread across Spain. This week’s decision worried people who have received their first jabs - and spread fears over the safety of vaccines in general. The Spanish health ministry said it was considering using a different vaccine on those who have had their first AstraZeneca shot or leaving them with just […]

EXPATS living in Spain and worried about receiving a Covid-19 vaccination have been an official guide by the British Embassy. Some UK nationals are concerned if they qualify for a jab – despite the Spanish government pledging a shot for everyone in the country as a matter of public health policy. As a result, the embassy has taken to Facebook and the ‘Brits in Spain’ page to explain and explain […]

New rules in force between April 12 and April 25 PRESIDENT of the Valencia regional government yesterday announced changes to restrictions designed to help control the spread of Covid-19. There are three main changes: inside private homes, two groups of cohabitants are allowed; in public, the number of people who can meet outside is increased from four to six – and six people can meet at tables in bars and […]

THE Spanish government has announced the controversial AstraZeneca jab will only be administered to people aged over 60. European health regulators announced on Wednesday there was ‘clear scientific” evidence the shot was “safe and effective” and benefits outweighed risks of rare side effects. However, the European Medicines Agency also said that “unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as a very rare side effect” of the vaccine. […]

Pedro Sánchez committed to programme success AN OPTIMISTIC Pedro Sánchez told the media Spain’s vaccination drive would see 33 million people – 70% of the population – vaccinated against coronavirus by the end of August. Spain’s prime minister set out a series of milestones in the ongoing rollout: he wants five million citizens fully vaccinated by May 3 and 25 million by the week of July 19. The positive message […]

THE President of the Valencia region Ximo Puig said today his government would use the “utmost prudence” as it looks to ease health restrictions used to control the Covid-19 pandemic. With the current infection rate at 34 cases per 100,000 people, he said a government meeting to decide the next move on Thursday will approach possible de-escalation of measures with “great caution”. And the politician added: “It has taken an […]

SPAIN’S Health Minister Carolina Darias remains confident 70% of the population aged over 16 will have received two vaccine shots this summer. She said the number of vaccines arriving in country will triple over the second quarter of the year, from this month until June, compared to the first three months of the year. However, on a lightning visit to the Valencia region, she also warned of an ‘upward trend’ […]