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A study carried out by consultancy firm IQVIA on 6,500 pharmacies across Spain has revealed that the sale of antigen tests to detect Covid-19 has increased by 556% between August 28 and September 3 compared to the last week in June. During this small stretch, more than half a million tests were sold, coinciding with a substantial rise in the number of hospitalisations due to coronavirus.

 

Spain lifted the last of its restrictions on July 28, so it is no longer mandatory to wear masks in hospitals and pharmacies. However, given the increase in cases, some hospitals in the country have chosen to reintroduce face shields in recent weeks.

 

Th World Health Organisation (WHO) has also warned of a considerable jump in admissions throughout Europe, although experts insist that the situation remains stable thanks largely to the high vaccination rate.

 

Dr Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, assured this week that while “Covid-19 is still there, the continent is prepared. Of course, the big caveat is whether there will be, hopefully not, a mutation, which would be a little more dangerous and would spread quickly,” he added.

 

In the last few weeks a new variant of Omicron, known as eg.5 or Eris, has swept through more than 45 countries. Although this variant presents very like the flu and hasn’t been linked to increased mortality so far, it is known to be far more transmissible than previous strains.

 

As a result, the European Commission has just given the green light to a new vaccination designed to tackle the sub-variants.

 

Here in Spain, the sale of antigen tests has increased the most in Extremadura in the last week (+1,374%), followed by Castilla-La Mancha (+1,265%), Castilla y Leon (+991%) and the Valencian Community (+848%), which is one of the autonomous communities in Spain that is launching a campaign to give joint Covid-flu vaccines to vulnerable groups this autumn.

 

The Canary Islands are faring the best, but the number of Covid home-testing kits purchased has still risen by 91%.

 

Spain’s president Pedro Sánchez has become the latest big name to succumb to coronavirus, testing positive on Thursday September 7. As a result of the diagnosis, Mr Sánchez has been forced to cancel his appearance at the G20 Summit scheduled to take place in India.

 

 

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