Coronavirus indicators are again on the rise in Catalonia. As the month of November ends, the EPG outbreak risk is at 325, 24 points more than the previous day, and the Rt transmission index stands at 1.35, when a figure above 1 means that the pandemic is expanding. Meanwhile, it has been decided that Catalonia's new Covid passport measures, making the certificate compulsory for entry to bars, restaurants, gyms and care homes, will come into force this Friday 3rd, after last weekend's planned entry into force was postponed.
On the other hand, it seems likely that Catalonia has its first two cases of the Omicron variant, as indicated by initial testing of two passengers who arrived at Barcelona's El Prat airport from South Africa. "It is not yet possible to confirm 100% that the two suspected positive cases of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 detected in Catalonia are of this variant, but preliminary results indicate that they could be," said the Catalan health department this Tuesday. Beyond the confirmation of whether they are affected by the new variant or not, the two people are obliged to comply with the corresponding isolation measures, having tested positive.
14-day incidence of Covid in Catalonia (blue= under 50s; yellow= over 50s)
Detected on Monday
On Monday, Catalan health minister Josep Maria Argimon had announced the probable detection of the first omicron cases in Catalonia, among passengers arriving at El Prat airport. While the minister stated then that the analytical results would enable this to be clarified on Tuesday, the health department has corrected this, clarifying that the final reports would be available on Friday, when the sequencing is expected to end. According to Argimon, the two passengers had arrived in Catalonia via Germany and gave a positive result to a rapid antigen test.
"Call for calm"
At the Catalan government's post-cabinet meeting press conference today, the executive responded with a "call for calm" to the concern caused by the new Omicron variant. Spokesperson Patrícia Plaja endorsed the guidelines set by the WHO and advised "patience and calm until further information is available".
Argimon also called for calm and "patience" given that for the moment there is no certainty about the true gravity of the Omicron variant, adding that meanwhile, a lot of "screening" would be carried out. The minister also recalled that mask wearing is "crucial" to prevent transmission of this and every other variant of the virus. Ventilation is also important, he reminded. He recalled that there is no "reliable" evidence that this variant is "more transmissible" and stressed that it is not yet known if the increase in hospital admissions in South Africa is related to the transmission of the new variant or if it is simply that there are more cases of Covid.
Passport on Friday
The health minister yesterday admitted the likelihood that the Omicron variant would begin to make its present felt in Catalonia: "sooner or later it will happen". However, Argimon explained that the executive is not planning new restrictive measures at this time.
He also announced that the Covid passport will become mandatory at midnight on Thursday night, as Friday begins, for access to bars, restaurants, gyms, and care homes, as well as the current use for nightlife venues, and festivities involving dancing. In an appearance at the Palau de la Generalitat Argimon called on people to save the document to their devices so as not to have to download it again and again, and he explained that right now there are 6,000 hits per minute on the La Meva Salut download website. In fact, it was an overload of digital visits to that website and app which led the government to temporarily suspend the obligation to show the Covid passport for entry to the new broader list of activities. The website had been overwhelmed by visits since last Thursday, when the High Court of Justice of Catalonia endorsed the digital certificate's use.
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