The data does not allow us to state that Catalonia has fully entered an epidemic of respiratory viruses, but it does show that cases are on the rise at a fairly high rate. The Information System for the Surveillance of Infections in Catalonia (Sivic) confirms that in the last week with updated information (from September 21 to 27) there were 44,000 affected people across the country, predominantly by rhinovirus. This represents a 26% increase compared to the previous week. "At the clinic, we are seeing an increase in cases, but the truth is that we are still at minimum levels of transmission. In adults, cold viruses are basically circulating," explains Jordi Mestres, a family doctor at the CAP Sanllehy in Barcelona and a member of the Catalan Society of Family and Community Medicine (Camfic).

Viruses don't take vacations. "They're present all year round, but the protagonist changes depending on the temperature and the climate," explains Fran Fernández Segura, family doctor at the CAP la Paz in Barcelona. Viruses are not, therefore, exclusive to winter. And the most common in the respiratory system are enteroviruses and rhinoviruses. The coronavirus also circulates. "It's true that summer climatic factors aren't the most suitable for them to survive, but viruses do," he adds.