Research from the University of Zaragoza determines the keys to the mechanism of action of an enzyme involved in cancer
21 February, 2020
Sugars and proteins, united for better or worse
24 February, 2020
The Ministry of Health orders greater sensitivity in health centers towards patients who come from affected countries.
So far there have only been false alarms in Spain. All coronavirus cases have tested negative. But the outbreak of COVID-19 in Italy has made the preventive attitude of the Ministry of Health go up a notch, which announced yesterday that it is reinforcing prevention in health centers for people traveling outside of Spain. A first precautionary measure, while in Italy they restrict circulation in risk areas (four provinces).
"It is a situation that worries us and we will have to see how it evolves," said Fernando Simón, director of the Health Alerts and Emergencies Coordination Center. The 151 confirmed infected and the three Italian deaths were the center of attention of the Coronavirus Monitoring Committee, chaired by the Minister of Health Salvador Illa. "Italy is part of the European Union and this causes us all some concern," warns Simón, who insists, as he has done on previous occasions, that there are no reasons for alarm, nor that we can speak of a pandemic, despite of new sources of infection.
"There are no cases, there is no transmission of the virus," repeated Simón, who trusts that the quarantine measures of the Italian authorities will prevent it from spreading strongly throughout the rest of Europe. However, the Government has ordered health centers to be especially "sensitive" towards those who come or have visited the affected areas of Italy, without actually proposing border control. But "you have to be prepared," said Simón. However, in the current scenario there is no question of decreeing general quarantines or canceling events that involve high concentrations of the public.
Faced with the new outbreaks of COVID-19 in Iran and South Korea, the Government has avoided singling out "specific population groups" or putting "red hats" on people, says Simón. "In any possible scenario," the Government asks for calm. With this situation, Health prioritizes early detection control measures and, in case of suspicion, the isolation of those who have been in contact with potentially affected people, as until now.
