The director of the Center for Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies (CCAES), Fernando Simón, considered this Thursday that If the incidence of covid is maintained as it has been until now, with a “moderate severity” of the cases, the Spanish will be able to spend “a good winter”.
Simón, who made these statements to the media at the end of the opening ceremony of the VI Conference on Activists and Public Health, organized by the State Council of Medicine Students in Madrid, stressed that if new variants and the effectiveness of vaccine it is maintained “no great things will have to be done”.
However, he has recognized that if other variants enter or if the effectiveness of the vaccine “radically drops”, the need to take tougher measures will have to be reconsidered. “I hope that doesn’t happen but we can’t rule it out,” he said.
The head of CCAES has specified that this scenario will not be known until mid-autumn.
Simón has also commented that Spain is reaching a valley period with a “relatively low” incidence and has pointed out that although the lack of restrictions and the mobility of contacts are greater, “the impact on hospitalizations and deaths is much lower than the that there was until now”.
Regarding the possibility of completely removing the masks, Simón has said that using them in health centers “it is not a problem that should be discussed” and he has opined that “if it stretches for a few more years, better than better”.
Masks in mass meetings
Regarding the use of masks in public transport, Simón has argued that “from a theoretical point of view”, it is not very logical to wear masks in this area, “since there are many other places where people are exposed to mass gatherings, such as concerts, bars or village parties”.
Therefore, he has insisted that “from a technical point of view, the use of a mask in public transport does not make much sense”, although he has recognized that in Europe there are many countries that have restored its use due to an increase in incidence.
The director of the CCAES has considered that it could be considered to eliminate its use in transport but knowing that if evolution changes it might be necessary to reinstate it.
Asked about monkeypox and if the downward curve is due to a delay in notifications in the month of August, the person in charge of the CCAES has commented that there could be this underdiagnosis because there are professionals on vacation or because people travel more in summer and does not go to the doctor but, in his opinion, “that is not the reason for the descent”.
Related news
According to Simón, the experience of neighboring countries and also of Spain demonstrates a “clear and objective drop in transmission” although it remains in risk groups and it will be necessary to ensure that it does not spread to other groups and generate new areas of transmission.
In relation to school canteens, the only space in educational centers where covid measures are maintained, Simón has been in favor of their elimination at the start of the course and has reported that it is an issue that is being debated between Health and the autonomous communities.