There is a "high probability" that Spanish health professionals will have to deal with "care situations as serious as those experienced during the state of alarm" if no new measures are taken against the coronavirus. This is the prognosis made this Thursday by nine Spanish medical associations who have issued a warning on the continued increase in new cases of Covid-19 across Spain in health centres, hospitals, intensive care units, emergency services and pulmonary units.
They say that the measures being taken "are not enough to control the transmission of infection", and therefore consider it "essential" that "coordinated, rapid and effective" measures be implemented by the Spanish health ministry in coordination with the autonomous communities.
More equipment and material
The statement is signed by the Spanish medical associations of specialists in pneumology and thoracic surgery (SEPAR), internal medicine (SEMI), infectious diseases and clinical microbiology (SEIMC), emergencies (SEMES), anesthesiology, resuscitation and pain therapy (SEDAR), preventive medicine, public health and hygiene (SEMPSPH), primary care (SEMERGEN), general and family medicine (SEMG) and family and community medicine (SEMFYC).
In the letter, the associations also warn health authorities that professionals must have “adequate stocks” of personal protective equipment, test reagents, drugs, ventilators, respirators, and that the necessary health personnel must be hired "so as not to repeat the deprivation of material and human resources experienced during the first wave of the pandemic."
Preventative measures urged
They also remind "the general population and especially young people" that it is "of the utmost importance" to "strictly" follow the preventative measures set out by the health authorities. To be specific: the use of masks, the maintenance of safety distances, frequent hand washing, the avoidance of crowded places, and compliance with quarantines that are in place.
Spain's state of alarm was the emergency administrative status imposed from mid-March to late June to manage the country's measures to combat Covid-19. During that period, over 27,000 people died from coronavirus in Spain according to official statistics. In the eight weeks since then, approximately 250 further Covid-19 deaths have occurred.