Decision on possible extension of Covid-19 health pass use to be made next week

Catalonia will make a decision on possibly extending the use of Covid-19 certificates – now required only for entry into nightclubs as well as other social activities in venues with indoor dance floors – next week.

In an interview with Ràdio 4 and La2 on Friday morning, health minister Josep Maria Argimon explained that his department was expecting to receive a report on the measure from the scientific advisory committee before the weekend.

The government is in favor of requiring health passes in other settings before implementing capacity or time restrictions, he said.

If the report views extending their use favorably, the government could seek High Court approval as early as next week.

Jabs for over 60s

As for when 60- to 69-year-olds will begin to receive booster shots, Argimon stated that this would take place at some point "in December." So far, only over 70s, immunocompromised people, care home residents, and Janssen vaccine recipients have been offered extra jabs, which 405,208 people in Catalonia have had. 

As of November 18, 2021, 6,011,417 residents have been given the first dose of the vaccine, 76% of the total population. Out of those, 5,182,472 have also been administered a second dose (65.6% of the total population). 5,916,455 residents are considered to be fully immunized (74.7%). 

Under 65s who have already had the virus are only required to have the first dose, and others have received a single-dose jab. Therefore, the % of two doses administered and % fully immunized do not match.

Masks in schools

When asked about face mask use in schools, where they remain mandatory for students 6 and older as well as teachers and other staff members, the health minister said he did not believe they should be removed just yet. There are now three times as many transmissions per student infected with the virus.

This comes despite a scientific advisory committee report just under three weeks ago that was in favor of lifting the requirement on playgrounds. Since November 4, however, the day the health department received the report, the transmission rate in Catalonia has grown from 1.14 to 1.47.

The outbreak risk, calculated using an EPG index which is found by multiplying the average spread of the virus over the past seven days by the cumulative incidence over the past two weeks, has jumped from 56 to 172 and is now considered to be 'high'.

At the time the report came out, there were 324 hospitalized Covid-19 patients and 78 in ICUs, while by November 18 the number of patients in hospitals had increased by 25% to 405, with those in ICUs growing by somewhat less to 97.