Health system will collapse without ‘total shutdown’, warn 60 Spanish medical professionals

SIXTY health professionals in Catalonia claim the Spanish government must move towards a complete lockdown or the health system will collapse completely.

Led by Catalan infectious disease specialist, Oriol Mitjà, the scientists, doctors and researchers have set up a petition calling for a ‘shutdown,’ warning of a system overload by April 24.

In an article published in medical journal, The Lancet, the health professionals call for a complete lockdown of Catalonia, including land, sea and air transport.

In addition they claim there is a dire need for improvement in the provision of protective equipment, more access to government data on the pandemic and the development of mobile apps.

Expressing concern about the level of action being taken by the Spanish government, the medics stressed “more drastic measures (are needed) to minimise the impact of the pandemic on the Spanish population.”

They added that “the foreseen collapse of the health system, along with the distribution of the Spanish population (of which 18 per cent are aged over 65), suggests a potentially high mortality rate.”

The 60-strong group of scientists want ‘regional categories’ to be established within Spain, with areas with over 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants eligible for total shutdown, except for essential services, such as hospitals, health care, and research centres.

They believe Catalonia, Madrid region, and five others should be included in this category.

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Written by

Tara Rippin

Tara Rippin is a reporter for Spain’s largest English-speaking newspaper, Euro Weekly News, and is responsible for the Costa Blanca region.
She has been in journalism for more than 20 years, having worked for local newspapers in the Midlands, UK, before relocating to Spain in 1990.
Since arriving, the mother-of-one has made her home on the Costa Blanca, while spending 18 months at the EWN head office in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol.
She loves being part of a community that has a wonderful expat and Spanish mix, and strives to bring the latest and most relevant news to EWN’s loyal and valued readers.

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