Reinforcing track and trace

Valencia government president Ximo Puig has announced that 260 additional tracers will be hired to help prevent the spread of coronavirus in the region.

He told the parliament yesterday ( Thursday) that when the Madrid region had 200 tracers the Valencia region had more than 1,000, and that they will be increased ‘ because now is the moment to stop the pandemic’. The 260 new tracers are qualified doctors who have passed the exam to be resident interns ( MIRs) but had not obtained a place so they will be able to help monitor and detect cases.

Sr Puig also revealed that an overtime programme to reinforce primary attention will be approved today and implemented next week in order to improve care by increasing the number of appointments available in the afternoons. The move has been agreed with unions and will enable waiting lists at health centres to be cut by using professionals who are already on active duty. They will be able to work extra fivehour or 2.5hour shifts.