Hospitalizations due to Covid-19 up 28% over the last week with 100 more admissions

Many key pandemic indicators in Catalonia continue to worsen. 

According to the latest data provided by Catalan health authorities, updated daily on this website, hospitalizations due to the virus increased by 103 people over the past seven days to a total of 470. This represents a rise of 28%. 

This is the highest figure seen since Catalonia was coming out of the summer wave. On September 26, there were 486 hospitalizations from the coronavirus. 

In the same time period, the number of patients requiring intensive care has risen from 88 to 102.

The 14-day incidence rate has increased significantly in this time also. The metric, which counts the number of infections per 100,000 people over the two-week period, stood at 82.33 on November 13, while it has since risen to 136.83 in the latest update - a spike of 66%. 

The outbreak risk has been rising continuously over the past weeks also, and surpassed the ‘very high risk’ threshold of 200 on Monday. 

The figure, calculated using an iEPG index, which is found by multiplying the average spread of the virus over the past seven days by the cumulative incidence over the past two weeks, currently stands at 199 - up from 124 a week earlier, and up from 85 just ten days ago. Above 100 in this indicator is considered the level that worries health authorities.

In terms of new cases, the virus is clearly spreading more rapidly in Catalonia. Over the last seven days, a total of 8,268 new cases have been reported, while the seven days prior to this period saw 5,695.

Vaccination progress

As of November 20, 2021, 6,019,404 residents have been given the first dose of the vaccine, 76.1% of the total population. Out of those, 5,196,925 have also been administered a second dose (65.8% of the total population).

5,926,279 residents are considered to be fully immunized (74.8%). Under 65s who have already had the virus are only required to have the first dose, and others have received a single-dose jab. Therefore, the % of two doses administered and % fully immunized do not match.

Under 65s who have already had the virus are only required to have the first dose, and others have received a single-dose jab. Therefore, the % of two doses administered and % fully immunized do not match.

Who has a right to a Covid-19 booster shot?

Third doses have also been approved for some population groups, and Catalonia has been giving them to elderly care home residents since September 17.

Booster shots will be given to over 70s, immunocompromised people, care home residents, and anyone who received the Janssen vaccine. Soon, over 60s and health workers will be given them also. 

As of November 20, 2021, Catalonia has administered 458,158 booster shots to these groups.

Most of the jabs given currently are booster shots for those who require third doses. 

Pandemic progression graphs

Number of people diagnosed per day 

Hospitalized patients and ICU patients from July 29, 2020

Number of confirmed and suspected Covid-19 deaths per day (at hospitals until May 19, also other health centers from May 20, also elsewhere since August 5)

Outbreak risk (over 100 is high) and transmission rate (over 1 concerns authorities)

Number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants in last 14 days

Percentage of population vaccinated 

Covid-19 data errors and changes

On May 18, 2020, an error was detected in the system of gathering data of confirmed Covid-19 cases. Once this error was corrected, the total number of confirmed cases went down by 3,293 on May 18, bringing the then-total cases down to 60,148.

The following day, 6,385 overall deaths in medical centers were reported, some 229 less than the 24 hours previous, suggesting that figures were also being adjusted in fatalities. However, no explanation was given for the difference in the official daily briefing of the latest Covid-19 figures.

From May 20, the deaths in medical centers have been merged to include those from hospitals and other kinds of health centers, prompting a surge of 156 that day. 

On July 30, the health department changed the way in which information is released. It no longer shares overall figures on the number of people who have been in serious condition or total patient discharges since the beginning of the pandemic, but rather it provides information on the total number of people that are currently hospitalized or in ICUs.

165 Covid-related deaths over the weekend of January 23 to January 24 were announced by funeral homes on January 25, 2021. Due to a system error, these cases were not added to the death tolls for the corresponding days but that of January 25.

On June 16, 2021, the total number of cases decreased due to a decision not to count 5,898 positive antibody tests as they were taken from people who had already received one dose of the vaccine. 

On June 27, 2021 the health department informed that the vaccination data for the previous day could not be updated, and would be added to the June 28 update in the June 27 figures. 

The Catalan health department did not update data on November 13, 2021 due to "technical issues."