Spain has recorded 200,000 cases of Covid-19 in two weeks. The authorities are worried as the Christmas holidays approach. The vaccination effort is doubled: 3.3 million 5-11 year olds can be vaccinated and the third dose will now be intended for 50-59 year olds. The people of Madrid are divided between worry and calm.
With our correspondent in Madrid, Francois Musseau
We are witnessing a race against time: on one side, a great vaccination effort, on the other side, the rapid rate of contagion of the Omicron variant across the country, which worries.
Maria, computer scientist, has just returned from Brazil: “ The cases of contagion in Spain are much more numerous than I imagined. I think we all have to be careful about outings, contacts we may have, family reunions, vaccinations … everything, what ! “
In Spain, as the cold rises, there is an additional risk. In addition to the end of year celebrations with family or friends, there is a multitude of Christmas dinners between colleagues in companies or administrations.
Alejandra, a chemistry teacher, had to cancel one of these meals because of infected people and she is worried for the weeks to come. ” Risk is associated in heads with groups of people, with non-ventilation areas, with the number of people meeting », She enumerates.
However, in general, people do not give in to panic, far from it. Like Roberto, a retired civil servant, seated at a table and drinking a glass of red wine: “ In the region of Madrid, I believe the situation is stable and without much risk at the moment. But there are more problematic regions, such as Navarre, the Basque Country. “
The statistics may be alarming, but the people of Madrid take things with a lot of calm and serenity.
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