MADRID, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- "The sixth wave of COVID-19 that has already started in Spain will have a minimal impact on the country's hospitals," Juan Abarca Cidon, president of Spain's third largest for-profit hospital group HM Hospitales, told Xinhua on Tuesday.
Cidon said that the hospitals across Spain are well-prepared for a new wave of infections, which he described as "normal," taking into account the arrival of colder weather, which leads to more frequent interactions in closed public spaces.
Rafael Bengoa, co-director of the Institute for Health and Strategy (SI-Health), said that the current rise in cases in Spain will be "less intense" than the previous waves, also in comparison to neighboring countries.
According to Bengoa, Spain is in a strong position due to its high (almost 80 percent) vaccination rate in the general population, the administering of a third (booster) vaccine dose to people aged 70 and over, and the maintenance of the "classic" public health restrictions, such as the mask mandate indoors and the health 'bubbles' in schools.
Cidon also recommended maintaining certain restrictions, such as face mask use and limiting capacity for the upcoming end-of-year events.
According to data published by the Spanish Ministry of Health on Monday, COVID-19 cases only occupy 1.77 percent of all hospital beds and 4.68 percent of beds in intensive care units in the country.
The ministry reported a slight increase in the 14-day incidence rate of coronavirus infections from 71.50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants on Friday to 82.02 cases on Monday.
A total of 9,798 new coronavirus infections and 43 deaths were registered during the 72-hour period between midday on Nov. 12 and 12 noon on Nov. 15. Enditem
