Catalonia surpasses four million people with one Covid vaccine dose

Catalonia has surpassed four million people inoculated with one vaccine dose against Covid-19, meaning that more than half of the total population have already received at least one jab.

While health authorities have not provided updated vaccination figures for two days on a row, provisional data suggest that 64,099 were inoculated on Saturday and 50,232 on Sunday.

As of Saturday, when the most recent figures were released, 3,930,033 people had been vaccinated, accounting for 50.1% of Catalonia’s 7.7 million inhabitants.

People born between 1987 and 1991 are able to book their first Covid-19 vaccination appointment from Monday, meaning that all people in their 30s or older can already get a jab. (Learn how to book your vaccine appointment here)

The vaccination campaign has contributed to keeping coronavirus contagion at bay after three waves of infections that wreaked havoc in Catalonia’s hospitals and medical centers.

The fall in new cases has allowed for a gradual lifting of coronavirus restrictions, such as the compulsory use of face masks in open-air public spaces and the reopening of nightclubs after being shut for 15 months.

Worsening Covid figures

However, health authorities have expressed concerns over worsening covid indicators, such as the transmission rate and the risk of new outbreaks, which have been increasing for nine consecutive days.

The transmission rate has gone from 0.94 on June 18 to 1.28 on June 27, marking a two-month high.

Earlier in June, the outbreak risk fell below the 100-point threshold marking a "high risk" for the first time since last summer. Standing at 79 on June 18, it has since risen to 124 points.

Health authorities have also spotted an increase of contagion among the youth. At least 242 Catalan students had tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday after a series of school trips to the Balearic and Canary islands.