April 30th New Covid19 Alert Levels

 The Ministry of Health has agreed this Thursday April 29th, after the analysis of the epidemiological indicators, to lower the island of Gran Canaria to alert level 2 (it was at 3) and that of Fuerteventura to alert level 1 (it was at 2) . El Hierro, Lanzarote and La Graciosa remain at level 2, and La Palma and La Gomera, at level 1.

In addition, the Governing Council has agreed that the Ministry of Health review next Tuesday, May 4, the indicators of Tenerife, to check if it is already possible to change the level from 3 to 2, provided that the current trend of improvement on that island.

In the case of the island of Tenerife, to date, the indicators mark its permanence at level 3. However, the Governing Council held this Thursday has urged the Ministry of Health, through its General Directorate of Health Public, to a review next Tuesday, May 4, of the epidemiological and care levels on that island, given the downward trend of all of them in recent days. It will be then when it is determined if the change of level in that island proceeds, which would take it from level 3 to 2.

The level changes will come into effect coinciding with the weekly update of the Accumulated Incidence Stoplight (IA), published on the website of the Ministry of Health. That decision is based on the report issued by the General Directorate of Public Health of the Canary Health Service (SCS) dated this Thursday. This report, in the case of Tenerife, indicates a daily average of 97 diagnoses. The 7-day AI on that same island has been decreasing to around 62 cases per 100,000 inhabitants today.

The behavior in the older age groups is parallel and the value of the rates is higher than that of the Autonomous Community as a whole. There is an expectant attitude to the consolidation of the value of the 7-day AI rates, so it is proposed to continue at alert level 3 for Tenerife, until the new test on Tuesday, May 4.

For Gran Canaria, the report includes that the AI ​​indicators at 7 and 14 days are at medium risk in the last 14 days, which indicates a certain stabilization of the risk of community transmission, the same as in the population aged 65 and over . In addition, the data suggest a downward trend, with an average of 53.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Therefore, it is proposed to descend to alert level 2.

However, the report states that this recommendation requires the collaboration of all citizens and institutions in complying with non-pharmacological measures, to avoid reversing this evolution and causing a rapid and uncontrollable increase in the number of cases.

With regard to Fuerteventura, a favorable trend is also confirmed in the indicators, which position it at alert level 1. The rates of AI at 7 and 14 days have remained at risk of medium transmission in the last two weeks and people aged 65 and over years have declined to low risk levels. However, the report states that close surveillance will have to be exercised in certain tourist centers of repeated non-compliance with prevention measures, which could become potential sources of transmission.

In the case of Lanzarote, the 7-day AI rate in this period is 48.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and it is proposed that it remain at alert level 2. The island of El Hierro also remains at this level, where in the In the last week there have been 18 new cases, with a total of 46 for the period analyzed, although since the 22nd the number of diagnoses in people 65 and over has fallen. This implies that the 7-day AI rates have been decreasing in recent days, but remaining at very high risks, not the case for those aged 65 and over, which has fallen solidly, according to the same report.

The island of La Palma, with 36 new cases in the last two weeks, presents a 7-day AI rate of 12.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, low risk, although in the last two days, in which they have been diagnosed In 20 of these cases, the rate has risen to medium risk. There are only two people admitted to the ICU. It is proposed that it remain at level 1. In the case of La Gomera, with two new cases, it presents incidents that indicate a minimal risk of community transmission and remains at level 1.

Update Cov19 Level

 The Governing Council of the Canary Islands has agreed this Thursday to maintain the alert levels for covid-19 in all the islands, except Fuerteventura, which drops from level 3 to level 2.

Thus, Tenerife and Gran Canaria continue at level 3, (red traffic light), Fuerteventura and Lanzarote at level 2 (orange traffic light) and La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro at level 1 (green traffic light).

"In Gran Canaria and Tenerife there is still worrying data, there is a line that we cannot reduce," said the Government spokesman, Julio Pérez, who has announced that a general review of the table of restrictive measures in force for each level based on experience and technical criteria.

Pérez recalled that this general table of measures, which was drawn up last June, includes 70 different measures and has pointed out that the experience in these months as well as the suggestions of the sectors will allow a "rereading" of them and decide the modification of some and the continuity of others.

Regarding the epidemiological situation of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, the government spokesman said that the seven-day incidence has been increasing in both islands and has alluded to other worrying parameters such as that it has increased, not only infections, but the occupation of ICUs Among other reasons, because the stay of patients in these areas has increased compared to the beginning of the pandemic.

Pérez has acknowledged that the Government of the Canary Islands is wondering if there will be any other more effective measure to reduce the trend of infections but has stressed that these same restrictions have worked at other times and now they have done so in Fuerteventura, which has allowed it to decrease of level.

However, the also Minister of Public Administrations has indicated that the effects of the vaccines "seem to begin to be visibly noticeable" given that contagions have been reduced between the groups already vaccinated with the two doses, which are groups 1 and 2.

"It is a relevant fact and without wanting to think that everything is resolved, it is a sign that the vaccine has positive effects," said Pérez, who has trusted that the same effect will occur in the following vaccination groups.

He has also detailed that the rate of vaccination has resumed and has specified that the problems in the delay caused with AstraZeneca, will be offset by the arrival of more Pfizer vaccines, although he did not know how to specify in what quantity.

Pérez recalled that in the Canary Islands between 16,000 and 17,000 people are being vaccinated a day although the estimates of the Canary Health Service is that if there are enough vaccines, that amount can be doubled.

He has also indicated that the figures for the use of doses in the Canary Islands are acceptable and has warned that the supply of vaccines in the national territory responds to the number of vulnerable people that exist in each community.

Mask wearing update 2nd April 2021

 The Government of the Canary Islands understands that the new regulations on the use of a mask in public spaces do not alter the exceptions approved in each autonomous community, which in the case of the islands protect whoever takes it off to sunbathe on the beach if they are in your towel and those around you are at a safe distance.

"The Canary Islands understand that the standards that it has used up to now are still covered by the new regulations" and "intensive use" is maintained in the application of the "new normal" law already in force that requires the use of the mask, even when the safety distance of 1.5 meters is maintained, said the spokesman for the regional Executive, Julio Pérez (PSOE).

However, he insisted, that general use of the mask does not cancel the exceptions set by the regional governments within their powers as health authorities in this pandemic.

In other words, the Canary Islands understand that in the case of beaches the rule by which it has been governed until now is still in force: the bather can remove the mask to enter the water, but also to sunbathe in a static place ( for example, your towel or lounger), as long as you can keep a safe distance.

"The Canarian regulations on the use of the mask is not a message of relaxation of use, people on the beach have the same obligation as until now, it is still mandatory," argued Pérez, who has once again asked citizens for responsibility in compliance with the rules against covid.

The law of urgent prevention, containment and coordination measures to face the health crisis caused by the covid was approved last Thursday by the plenary session of Congress, after the green light of the Senate, where an amendment was introduced -of the PSOE- that it established the mandatory nature of the mask even while maintaining the safety distance.

The text that reached the Senate and that was not previously modified in Congress established that people over six years of age are obliged to use the masks "on public roads, in open air spaces and in any closed space of public use or that is open to the public, as long as it is not possible to guarantee the maintenance of an interpersonal safety distance of at least 1.5 meters ".

With the amendment introduced in the Senate, the final part of the wording of the text regarding the safety distance was deleted, making the use of the mask mandatory even if that distance of 1.5 meters can be maintained.

However, the Government of the Canary Islands protects its interpretation of this law at the end of its article 6.2: "It will not be enforceable in the case of individual sport in the open air, nor in cases of force majeure or situation of necessity or when , by the very nature of the activities, the use of the mask is incompatible, in accordance with the indications of the health authorities ".

In his opinion, this mention of "the indications of the health authorities" keeps the exceptions issued by the Government of the Canary Islands in force.

And those exceptions to the mandatory use of the mask, in the regulations of the islands, are two:

1) In spaces of nature or outdoors outside population centers, as long as the influx of people allows maintaining an interpersonal safety distance of at least two meters.

2) On the beaches and swimming pools exclusively during bathing and while staying in a certain space, without moving, and provided that the respect of the interpersonal safety distance of at least two meters between all non-living users can be guaranteed.

The Canarian Executive spokesman has asked that "rigor be extreme in compliance with the measures now that the risk increases, there is more mobility, social life and family encounters" with Easter.

Likewise, Pérez has stated that "the vaccination process remains at very acceptable levels" and the figures "continue to be encouraging and only the speed of supplies darkens the prospects; if we had enough vaccines, we would achieve immunity soon."

It has also reported that the doses of Pfizer's vaccine scheduled for Monday are doubled and those of AstraZeneca are also increased next Friday