Coronavirus: the British variant is already predominant …

The British variant of the coronavirus already represents half of all cases in Spain. His greater transmissibility made him advance until he became predominant, as reported this Wednesday the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias.

“It represents more than 50% of cases“said the official, and also pointed out that the incidence of this variant, which is much more contagious,” is 70 and even 80 percent in some areas. “

In this context, Darias warned that “we are facing a possible change of trend”, with a cumulative incidence which is gradually increasing and which this Wednesday has increased from 129 to 132 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. This index is up slightly from Wednesday of last week.

“We must abolish all control measures and reverse this trend “, assured the minister. However, for the moment, it has not been proposed to increase the measures decided on March 10 for Easter, but stressed that this is a minimum agreement that regional governments can change if they see fit. necessary.

Spain recorded the first significant peak in infections on Wednesday which, if the next few days continued at the same pace, would become the fourth wave of the epidemic, just at the gates of Holy Week. According to the latest health report, in the past 24 hours they have been told 7,026 new cases and 320 deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 74,064.

The incidence of the pandemic is increasing in particular in 11 autonomous communities (in addition to the two autonomous cities), where the infection rate is higher than that of a week ago. The highest figures are still found in Melilla (511), Ceuta (253), Madrid (228) and the Basque Country (199).

As, the hospital situation is still complicated In several regions: the average occupancy rate of intensive care units for covid patients is 18.6% and Catalonia, Madrid and La Rioja exceed 30%. “If the increase in cases continues, the following week the hospitalized will increase, the next week the urinary tract infections and finally the deaths.Darias warned.