Covid-19 cases have fallen by 20.42% over the past week in the province of Alicante and across the wider Valencian Community. Overall respiratory infections decreased by 3.88% to stand at 690.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, driven largely by drops among children under the age of four.
This age group had previously experienced a surge in infections coinciding with the start of the school term. The current downward trend also coincides with the launch of the region’s vaccination campaign.
The improvement is highlighted in the latest bulletin from the Acute Respiratory Infection Surveillance System of the Valencian Community (SiVIRA), managed by the regional department of health, which tracks respiratory virus trends during week 40 of the year, spanning from 28th September to 4th October.
Remaining in scenario zero
With this decrease, the Valencian Community remains in scenario zero of the health department’s contingency plan—an interepidemic or basal situation—as the overall incidence rate stays below 756 cases.
The global respiratory virus rate dropped this week by 3.88% to 690.9 cases, contrasting with the 33.7% increase recorded in the previous period when figures reached 718.5 cases. Infections among children under four fell notably to 3,069 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, down from 3,491 cases in week 39 when rates had jumped by 50%. Conversely, incidence among people over 65 rose by 7.73%, moving from 583.7 cases the previous week to 628.8 cases.
Primary care virus tracking
Specifically, covid circulation fell by 20.42% to 102.9 cases. This decline follows a 125% increase in week 38 and a further 10% rise in week 39.
Meanwhile, influenza infections dropped from 5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants to 3.5, while the incidence rate of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the primary cause of bronchiolitis, remained at zero for another week. Hospital admission rates for severe respiratory infections stood at 9.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 9.5 cases the previous week.
Vaccination campaign progress
The regional health department launched the second phase of the vaccination campaign for all risk groups at primary care centres, with rollouts expanding to the rest of the population on 2nd November.
The first phase began on 28th September in care homes and disability centres, focusing on immunisation against influenza, covid, and RSV where indicated, alongside flu immunisations in schools and for infants regarding RSV.
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