Nothing seems to indicate that Euskadi can reduce in the short term the current restrictions imposed to stop the expansion of Covid-19. The Basque Government believes that the time has not yet come to lower its guard, when it seems that the third wave has reached its peak in the community. “We are in a serious and complicated situation, with the health system very stressed,” warned this Monday the Minister of Health, Gotzone Sagardui. For this reason, in his opinion, «Maximum prudence is the most appropriate at this time» in reference to the meeting of the LABI -Advisory Council of the Civil Protection Plan- this Friday, where some of the measures could be reconsidered.
“We will have to listen to the assessment of the technical council, but we understand that we are still in a very compromised situation,” the regional manager settled. And he insisted that the average of the accumulated index continues to be above 600 cases and there are still 84 municipalities that exceed 500, although he also hinted that there is no intention of hardening the current regulations.
Under this criterion, the Department of Health presented this Monday before the Superior Court of Justice of the Basque Country its allegations to the appeal of the Basque hotel industry to be able to reopen its premises in the municipalities in the ‘red zone’, since it considers that its activity is not at the origin of the increase in infections. The contentious-administrative chamber must assess this complaint this Tuesday and can decide whether, at least as a precautionary measure, lift this restriction. “The measures are bearing fruit, but if they are not maintained, the results we are seeking will not be achieved,” said Sagardui. In any case, he expressed his confidence that, as of tomorrow, he will begin to have “another image” of the epidemiological situation in the community if its downward trend is confirmed.
For now, the fall in infections reflected in the latest report from the Deputy Ministry of Public Health and Addictions reduces to 40 the municipalities that are in the ‘red zone’ in Bizkaia, where more than 930,000 people live. In this way, 60,000 more residents will be able to enjoy again from today in their localities the hospitality, school and group sports. They are the residents of Amorebieta, Arrieta, Atxondo, Barrika, Berriz, Carranza, Elorrio, Lekeitio, Trapagaran, Zalla and Zaratamo.
7 municipalities about to leave
The other side of the coin is for Gorliz and Gamiz-Fika, who re-enter a blacklist that they had abandoned just a week ago. In addition, Barakaldo, Erandio, Markina, Mungia, Muskiz, Ortuella and Portugalete, where more than 210,000 people live, have an incidence rate of less than 550 cases and could leave the ‘red zone’ this Friday.
At the level of the Basque Country, Eibar and Hondarribia have also managed to lower this figure, but Llodio, Oiartzun and Usurbil have surpassed it. And the three Basque capitals remain in the same situation.
