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‘Stay home’: Valencia town returns to lockdown after spike in cases

Health authorities in Valencia have imposed a new lockdown on residents in the town of Benigánim after a surge in coronavirus infections.

Published: 31 August 2020 12:43 CEST
'Stay home': Valencia town returns to lockdown after spike in cases
Police at a checkpoint on a road in Spain. Photo: AFP

New lockdown restrictions that include the closure of bars and restaurants were imposed for a period of 14 days beginning on Monday afternoon.

The town of just under 6,000 residents has seen 51 people test positive by Sunday, a cumulative incidence surge from 34.24 cases per 100,000 inhabitants to 994.46 cases per 100,000 within a week.

 

Ana Barceló, Valencia’s regional health minister said the increase in cases in the last seven days “shows a significant spread of the virus in Benigànim, and indicates a sustained community transmission.

“This is why it is necessary to adopt these temporary measures, with the aim of stopping and mitigating the risk of contagion,” she explained. “It’s a difficult decision, but necessary.”

Amparo Canals, the mayor of Bengànim urged residents to “stay home” and follow the rules while the outbreak is brought under control.

Although people are not strictly confined to their homes and can go outside to take exercise or visit the supermarket, they are unable to leave enter or leave municipal limits of the town except for reasons that include; returning to place of residence, visiting the doctor, going to work, or  taking care of elderly or dependents.

People are still able to transit the town by driving through it as long as they do not stop there.

The start of schools and nurseries will be delayed until after the confinement period and all social centres such as day centres and sports clubs will be suspended as well as events such as weddings, baptisms and communions.

Funerals will be limited to 15 people outdoors and 10 people within a closed space.

ANALYSIS: It feels like Spain is going back in time

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COVID-19

Public Health Agency recommends two Covid doses next year for elderly

Sweden's Public Health Agency is recommending that those above the age of 80 should receive two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine a year, once in the spring and once in the autumn, as it shifts towards a longer-term strategy for the virus.

Published: 23 December 2022 10:53 CET
Public Health Agency recommends two Covid doses next year for elderly

In a new recommendation, the agency said that those living in elderly care centres, and those above the age of 80 should from March 1st receive two vaccinations a year, with a six month gap between doses. 

“Elderly people develop a somewhat worse immune defence after vaccination and immunity wanes faster than among young and healthy people,” the agency said. “That means that elderly people have a greater need of booster doses than younger ones. The Swedish Public Health Agency considers, based on the current knowledge, that it will be important even going into the future to have booster doses for the elderly and people in risk groups.” 

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People between the ages of 65 and 79 years old and young people with risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes, poor kidney function or high blood pressure, are recommended to take one additional dose per year.

The new vaccination recommendation, which will start to apply from March 1st next year, is only for 2023, Johanna Rubin, the investigator in the agency’s vaccination programme unit, explained. 

She said too much was still unclear about how long protection from vaccination lasted to institute a permanent programme.

“This recommendation applies to 2023. There is not really an abundance of data on how long protection lasts after a booster dose, of course, but this is what we can say for now,” she told the TT newswire. 

It was likely, however, that elderly people would end up being given an annual dose to protect them from any new variants, as has long been the case with influenza.

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