Spain begins new era without isolation for mild COVID-19

MADRID (AP) — The Spanish authorities are moving closer to normalizing coexistence with COVID-19 by canceling, starting next week, the mandatory quarantine for those infected asymptomatic or showing mild symptoms of the disease.

Current rules impose seven days of isolation for anyone who tests positive for a test.

As of March 28, tests will only be carried out with high-risk groups and in health institutions or homes for the elderly, as well as seriously ill, said the Ministry of Health.

He said the decision was made by the Public Health Commission.

With high levels of vaccination, the coronavirus infection rate remains above 400 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 14 days, a high level but much lower than in mid-January, when it was 3,400 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants due to the omicron variant.

Since the first case was identified in early 2020, Spain has officially reported 11.3 million infections and just over 100,000 deaths, although statistical accuracy has varied during the pandemic.