Covid-19 transmission rate below 1 again as Easter impact limited

The Covid-19 transmission rate has fallen below 1 again after around ten days over the threshold that concerns authorities.

This variable indicates the number of people each positive case is transmitting the virus to and, as of April 22, it stood at 0.97.

On April 15, it peaked at 1.39, which prompted fears of a possible fourth wave of the pandemic as serious as the previous ones, with health workers warning of alarmingly high rates of ICU occupancy.

Yet, following a peak of 518 patients in intensive care on April 12, that number has now lowered to 494 in the latest figures. 

So far the transmission rate is moving in a downward trend, as is the outbreak risk despite being above the 'very high' threshold. As of April 22, the figure stood at 267 — the limit of 'high' risk is at 100, and 'very high' at 200.

Using the iEPG index, the outbreak risk is calculated by multiplying the average spread of the virus over the past seven days by the cumulative incidence over the past two weeks.

The current figures show that the impact of the Easter break was lower than feared – on April 16, the public health secretary, Josep Maria Argimon, confirmed that there had not been a "skyrocketing" of cases.

Some restrictions lifted

 

This week, authorities confirmed that mobility restrictions would be lifted as of Monday, April 26, allowing people to travel freely throughout Catalonia once again.

In a press conference on Thursday, the health minister Alba Vergés announced other de-escalation measures, including the restoration of in-person classes for pre-university exam-year school students ('Batxillerat' courses) and vocational training courses ('Cicles Formatius'). 

Other eased restrictions include the reopening of restaurants in malls — from 7 am to 5 pm like the rest of such businesses —, the increase of capacity in sports and religious events from 30% to 50%, the end of the restriction to 800 m² in the area allowed for stores to open and also the reopening of children's play areas. 

The rest of restrictions, such as the curfew, face masks, and closure of Catalan borders, remain in operation.