Spain reported 60,041 new coronavirus infections on December 22, by far the highest number of cases in the country since the pandemic began.
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The last record was set on Tuesday with 49,000 daily infections, surpassing the previous all to time high recorded last January.
In Spain, 90% of the population older than 12 has been fully immunized, while 74% of people older than 60 have received a booster shot. This has managed to keep hospitalizations around one to third lower than during the peak in infections last January.
After meeting with regional leaders, the prime minister announced just one new restriction — that it will be mandatory to wear masks outdoors from Friday. There will be exceptions for rural areas, people doing sports, or those who are walking alone, he said.
The government is also offering more military help for healthcare and vaccinations as well as allowing rapid tests previously reserved for hospitals to be commercialized.
Also, on Wednesday December 22, the UK reported a record 100,000 coronavirus cases for the first time since the pandemic began. 106,122 people had tested positive for the virus. In the week beginning December 16, 643,219 people had a confirmed positive test result, representing a 58.9% increase when compared to the previous week.
Some 140 people died on Wednesday and 783 deaths were reported within a month of testing positive of the virus, a 2.7% decrease when compared to the previous week.
The UK’s vaccines watchdog on Wednesday recommended that coronavirus vaccines be extended to vulnerable children aged 5 to 11 in an effort to increase immunity in light of the omicron spread.
According to the new rules enacted by the Welsh government, hospitality venues accessible to the public such as restaurants, cafes, cinemas and theatres would have to apply the two-meter social distancing rule and that those attending venues would have to do so in groups of six or less.
Mask mandates will be made compulsory unless people are seated and stationary and for the purposes of track and trace, venues will have to take the contact details of their customers.
The Welsh first minister accused the London government of being in a “state of paralysis†in its failure to act decisively over the spread of the omicron variant. ■