Beware of the rapid penetration of the British variant

It is already evident that the variant identified in the United Kingdom, which is more contagious than the original Wuhan variant, is spreading throughout Catalonia. Unfortunately, we cannot be surprised that this is the case. In areas such as Garrotxa, Pla de l'Estany and Gironès the evidence is beginning to be worrying. It is suspected that the Vall d'Aran could be in the same situation, but there is still no reliable data. To a lesser extent, it is also happening in the Vallès Occidental, Vallès Oriental and Baix Llobregat. Specifically, in Banyoles 50% of the wastewater samples are of this variant, and 30% in Olot. In the Besòs wastewater treatment plant, the largest in the state, the characteristic gene of this mutation already makes up 15%. In Barcelona city, 9% of the samples analysed are of the British variant. Thus, given its rapid spread - its spread around Catalonia has occurred in just 20 days - all precautions are few. The residences and hospitals where it has penetrated have painfully experienced how the protection protocols hitherto in force have fallen short. It has caught them unawares because, despite complying with the restrictions, they have been left vulnerable. Therefore, there is no choice but to redouble vigilance with stricter measures, and it must be done urgently, preventively, without waiting to detect more cases. It is time to opt for safer masks, for a more intensive maintenance of air conditioners, for more natural ventilation where it is not counterproductive, for fewer visits and maximum control of these visits ... It would be necessary, in this sense, that the Department of Health of the Generalitat give clear instructions and adequate means to deal with this variant. And not only this, because on Wednesday the first case of the South African variant was detected, which, like the British variant, is also more contagious. We cannot exclude that cases of the Brazilian variant will also be detected in time.

According to experts, the vaccines are equally effective against these mutated versions of covid-19. This, then, is not the problem. The problem is that these variants facilitate the spread of the virus and that, therefore, in a context of great fragility of a health system on the edge, with a high occupancy of ICUs that will take a long time to liberate, any rebound in the number of coronavirus patients can be critical. The solution is to combine the strengthening of health safety measures in the most sensitive places - health centres - but also in workplaces, homes and places where sociability is still allowed - shops, restaurants, culture, educational centres - with vaccination, the quicker and more massively the better.

Now that Catalonia as a whole is beginning to lower its infection rates, it is vital not to lower our guard against the penetration of the British variant, the presence of which could easily halt the slight improvement we are experiencing. In fact, the projections are not positive: they warn that it could change the downward trend we have been on for the last three weeks. The danger is there and we have been warned. We must take it seriously. With coronavirus, we have already learnt that it is no good to relax. There are still many months of fighting, that is to say, of restrictions, vaccination and prevention.