Number of Covid patients in intensive care falls below 300 for first time in seven months

The number of patients with Covid-19 in intensive care has fallen below 300 for the first time since October 21, before the second wave in Catalonia. 

Across February, March and April, the number of patients in intensive care did not change much, staying between 400 and 500 for most of that time period. 

Alongside this reduction, the number of hospitalized patients has also been on the decrease - as of May 25, the number of people hospitalized with Covid-19 stands at 812, the lowest it has been since October 3. 

Although, just over two weeks since the state of alarm ended, which came with a relaxation of measures such as the end to nightly curfew and the opening of bars in the evening, the Covid-19 transmission rate has begun to rise gradually over the last 7 days, after hitting a low of 0.74 a week ago. As of May 25, the R number stands at 0.94 - rising over 1 would concern authorities.

Vaccination

The reduction in the number of ICU patients is largely due to the steady progress of the vaccine rollout plan.

According to the latest data released on May 26, 2,750,507 people have received their first vaccination (34.7%), and 1,206,557 both doses (15.0%), with 1,259,011 being completely immunized (16.1%), according to the Catalan Health Department.

Currently, people in their 50s are being offered jabs. Health authorities expect to start offering the coronavirus vaccine to people aged 40-49 by mid-June, and to reach all the population under 40 years old by July.

This week, FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium will begin to be used as a mass vaccination site as Catalonia ramps up its vaccination efforts. 

The iconic football stadium will have the capacity to administer 2,500 jabs per week in four booths, with the Catalan capital's Hospital Clínic in charge of the site, along with the primary care centers CAPSBE and CAP Sarrià. 

On March 23, the Catalan health minister, Alba Vergés, presented a plan with a network of 500 mass vaccination sites across Catalonia to cope with up to 500,000 doses a week.