COVID update Friday 17th December 2021

The end of another week and 92 weeks since the Friday night when police were driving around Vera telling people to “go home and stay home”. Today, the Junta de Andalucía website reports that in the last 24 hours, in the towns that I report on, there are 5 new cases with 2 in Los Gallardos and 1 each in Mojácar, Vera and Garrucha. 4 cured cases have been reported with 1 in Mojácar and 3 in Vera. Active case numbers are now Los Gallardos 10, Turre 5, Mojácar 17, Vera 18, Garrucha 8 and Bédar 0. In the province of Almería in the last 24 hours 249 new cases have been recorded with 83 cured cases. The incidence rate for the province of Almería for the last 14 days has again increased, from 176.9 yesterday to 202.6 today and the 7 day rate has also increased again, from 116.6 yesterday to 137 today. The incidence rate for Los Gallardos is now 310.1 for the last 14 days and 275.7 for the last 7. Hospitalizations and ICU numbers in Andalucía. 01/12/21 – 294 / 69 11/12/21 – 434 / 87 13/12/21 – 427 / 86 14/12/21 – 512 / 93 15/12/21 – 503 / 97 16/12/21 – 495 / 99 17/12/21 – 531 / 99 As we are all aware the numbers of new cases are rising all over the world due to the latest variant and Spain is now in its sixth wave. Thankfully, locally we seem to be less affected than other areas but nevertheless, if lockdowns come in the larger more densely populated towns and cities then it will no doubt filter down to us. Masks may well become compulsory outdoors over Christmas and let us not forget that they are already compulsory indoors now. The government is pushing booster jabs for 40+ year olds so it seems to be doing all that it can for us. Have a good weekend everybody, keep sanitising your hands, wear a mask and most important of all, stay safe.