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Harsh restrictions have been implemented in San Roque, Jimena, Castellar and San Martín del Tesorillo as Covid shows no sign of slowing down and pressure on health services sees patients being transferred to other hospitals. The situation also continues to deteriorate in San Roque, Castellar and Los Barrios.
The so-called “third wave” of coronavirus is causing chaos throughout Spain, with infection rates becoming especially concerning in La Línea de la Concepción which has been stuck in level 4, degree 2 (the highest level) for a week, which consists of some of the harshest restrictions.
La Línea has been under a perimeter lockdown since the beginning of 2021; which has seen all “non-essential” activity shut down for over a week in a bid to slow the rising Covid-19 infection rate. As of this Monday (Jan 18th), the rate of infection stands at 2,266 per 100,000 inhabitants, and this has continued to be on the rise despite tough restrictions being imposed.
This week, La Línea has seen 705 positive cases, with a total of 31 deaths since the pandemic began.
But the statistics have not proved to be any better for the rest of the Campo de Gibraltar, which has now seen 750 new active cases and 19 deaths in the past few hours.
The Junta de Andalucía announced 323 new positive cases over the weekend in La Línea (with 6 deaths); 216 in Algeciras (with 5 deaths); 75 in San Roque; 66 in Los Barrios (with 4 deaths); 48 in Tarifa (with 2 deaths); 12 in Castellar; 7 in Jimena (with one death); and three in San Martín del Tesorillo.
The infection rate of Covid-19 appears to continue to increase and has become a concern in Castellar, whose rate currently stands at 2,197 per 100,000 inhabitants this Monday. San Roque follows at second place at 1,274 and Los Barrios at 1,142.
The increase has also led to greater hospital admissions and has placed pressure on healthcare services, forcing the Andalusian Health Services (SAS) to start referring patients to other hospitals in the province and to set up wards for Covid patients.
Parents Refuse to Take their Children to School in La Línea
The tension is high in La Línea and parents are refusing to take their children to school after the Junta de Andalucía ignored a request by the City Council for schools to remain closed until the growth of infection decreases considerably. These concerned parents are calling for classes to be held online for the time being.
School attendance by the approximately 12,500 students has plummeted to 4% since the school year resumed on the 11th of January.
Sanitary district
The so-called third wave is also being felt in nearby municipalities which includes the entirety of San Roque, including Sotogrande.
Due to the increase in infections, the Andalusian Regional Government Health Council brought this city as well as Castellar to Alert Level 4 Grade 2 on Sunday, and also Jimena and San Martín del Tesorillo (because they are part of the same health district and depend on the La Línea Hospital).
This means that the maximum possible restrictions have also been added on top of the perimeter closures of these towns, which means the closure of all “non-essential” businesses and the hotel industry”.
Last Saturday, the Junta had lifted the perimeter closure for Algeciras and Tarifa for having a rate of 500 positive cases per 100,000 citizens.
10 Nursing Homes See Covid Outbreaks
Localised outbreaks are occurring in the Campo de Gibraltar. As of this Monday, there have been 10 outbreaks in nursing homes in five towns in the region.
Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix, Mayor of San Roque, said on Monday that the situation is very complicated: 31 residents with Covid-19, of whom 12 have been transferred to the San Carlos Hospital in San Fernando due to rising pressure, being felt by the La Línea and Algeciras hospitals. 9 workers have tested positive.
Another outbreak was detected in the Oncology / Haematology section of the La Algeciras hospital, where several Covid-19 deaths have been reported.
As people face this bleak backdrop, the vaccine is being lauded as the only light at the end of a very sinister tunnel whose journey began in March 2020. This Sunday, the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine was being administered in Cádiz for elderly people, nursing home patients and frontline staff. The arrival of the Moderna vaccine in Spain has also been applauded as another avenue of hope in combatting the pandemic.
BREAKING: Los Barrios will freeze all “non-essential” economic activity this Wednesday as the incident rate now at 1,142 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and Tarifa will return to a premimeter closure as it exceeds 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
