At the meeting of the Public Health Commission last Tuesday, the Spanish Government and representatives of the autonomous communities decided to suspend the confinement for mild and asymptomatic cases of COVID-19. Thus, as of March 28, most coronavirus cases in Hego Euskal Herria will not have to carry out any containment. Lockdown has been replaced by a number of recommendations: in the future, the infected person will be asked to be careful, to reduce contact with vulnerable people, or to wear a mask, among others.
However, the enclosures will not completely disappear, as control and isolation measures can continue to be taken in vulnerable areas, such as social and health centres, if deemed necessary. According to the Basque Department of the Interior, the criteria for isolations in these cases were advanced on Tuesday: "Facing the residences, a five-day isolation will be established, also for patients admitted to the hospital by COVID-19."
Tests also only on the injured
Another decision taken at the meeting was to perform diagnostic tests only on vulnerable sectors, although this is a procedure already in force in Hego Euskal Herria: These may be severe cases, over 60 years of age, people with immunodeficiency, pathology or pregnant women.
The measure shall remain in force if the epidemiological situation does not worsen. Depending on the hospitalization data, it would be decided to tighten the measures: more than 5% of hospital beds and more than 10% of ICU beds if they are filled by individuals infected with COVID-19. However, given the evolution, steps are being taken towards another disease control system, similar to that used for flu control.