The Government of Pedro Sánchez continues to demonstrate its difficulty in adapting to the EU’s requirements in terms of Covid control. The precautions demanded by the EU have lately focused on the monitoring and sequencing of the variants of the coronavirus to be able to act immediately against them.
Despite this, the latest studies by the Ministry of Health include phrases such as “because data are not available from all communities, the results cannot be considered representative at the national level”, or statements that devalue the potential seriousness of variants such as India without having carried out a thorough follow-up: “The risk of dissemination is considered moderate and its impact could be high.”
Two of the latest studies on the control and monitoring of coronavirus variants have indicated the following features in the advance of mutations in Spain. In the case of the study Circulation of variants of SARS-CoV-2 of greater impact and interest for public health in Spain Update June 7, 2021 , it is pointed out that the “ Alpha variant (lineage B.1.1.7) has become the dominant one in Spain, so the vast majority of current cases correspond to this lineage. The risk of reinfections due to this variant and a decrease in vaccine effectiveness is considered low ”.
Regarding the variant “Beta (B.1.351) in Spain has generally remained below 3% although some cases and outbreaks with no antecedent of international travel have been detected.” Despite this, it does point out in this case that “although the presence is considered low at this time, it is not ruled out that in a scenario of high vaccination coverage, its prevalence may be increased, due to its ability to escape immunity.”
Despite this, “the risk of dissemination is considered moderate at this time” and this despite the fact that it is admitted that “taking into account that this variant could significantly escape the action of some vaccines, it is considered that, in case of increasing its frequency, the impact could be high ”.
Other variants of coronavirus
Of the ” Gamma variant (P.1 lineage)” the same study states that “it is currently detected at levels close to 5% in different regions of Spain. Due to its ability to evade the immune response, probably less than that of Beta, the risk of dissemination and its possible impact are considered moderate ”. And of the “Delta variant (lineage B.1.617.2)” it is noted that, “although the first cases have been detected in Spain in recent weeks, some outbreaks have already been reported without a link to international travel. Given that there are indications of possible increases in transmissibility and severity, the risk of dissemination is considered moderate and its impact could be high ”.
Another recent study by the Ministry of Health confirms the systematic notation of moderate risks and the lack of deep control. This is the report of “June 14, 2021. Update of the epidemiological situation of the variants of SARS-CoV-2 with the greatest impact and interest in public health in Spain”.
There, again, Beta (B.1.351) and (Gamma) P.1 are discussed: “An increasing number of laboratories are beginning to use PCR tests capable of identifying samples compatible with B.1.351 or P. 1 (although in most cases it is not possible to differentiate between the two).
The available data correspond to 14 autonomies in weeks 21 and 22. It must be taken into account that not all the analyzed samples correspond to randomly selected cases. For this reason and because data is not available from all the communities, the results cannot be considered representative at the national level ”.
A total of 18 new cases of the Indian delta variant
In this study, in fact, no reference is made to the Indian variant, and this, despite the fact that the Ministry of Health of the Government of the Community of Madrid has already reported the location of 18 new cases of the delta variant (B.1.617 .2) of the Covid-19, formerly known as India, not associated with each other. Those 18, in addition, are added to another 4 previously confirmed, bringing the total number of cases to 22. Madrid has also reported that community transmission of the same variant is already taking place, in fact, this reason is which has led the General Directorate of Public Health to advance to the eleventh week the administration of the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine for the population group between 60 and 69 years old.
The data from Madrid add that it is a variant that is 50% more transmissible than the British one, so it is considered that, in six or seven weeks, it could be the predominant one in Spain.
