Over 5,000 new Covid cases reported as contagion spike intensifies

July began with 5,067 new Covid-19 cases reported in Catalonia - only seven other days during the course of the pandemic have seen more positive results returned.

The staggering spike in cases among young people continues, and led to health authorities opening up the vaccine rollout to everybody over the age of 16 on Wednesday.

The past few days have seen new case figures surge rapidly in Catalonia, with more coronavirus positives confirmed by PCR or antigen tests in the past three days (11,064) than the total of the prior fortnight (10,578).

Number of people diagnosed per day 

Over the past two weeks, the risk of new Covid-19 outbreaks went from 79 points on June 18 (a figure deemed as 'medium risk') to 199, on the verge of a 'very high' risk.

Other indicators are also on the rise, with the IA14 (the number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days) at 132.55, and the transmission rate reaching its highest levels since last December.

However, the rise in contagion —which is being especially felt among young people— has not yet translated into an increase of hospitalizations and patients in intensive care units.

Health authorities have ruled out reimposing some restrictions that were recently lifted, such as the obligation to wear a facemask outdoors, or the reopening of nightclubs for the first time since the pandemic started.

Nightclubs close again

Some nightclubs in Catalonia, such as Cocoa, Titus Carpa, or Arena Classic, have announced they're again closing their doors to avoid "being criminalized" for the ongoing rise in coronavirus cases.

The association of nightclubs Fecasam argues that the measures imposed by the Catalan government make it impossible for them to comply, including restrictions on social gatherings, capacity limits, and the prohibition to drink while dancing.

Fecasam asks the Catalan government to "urgently" lift such restrictions and provide instead rapid tests.