Covid bonus for hospital staff in Valencia region

Regional president promises extra pay check before year ends and health centres opening in afternoons

VALENCIA regional president Ximo Puig annunced on Monday that all public healthcare staff belonging to AVS ( Agencia Valenciana de Salud) will recieve an extra months' salary before the end of this year.

Sr Puig made the announcement during the state of the region opening speech in the Valencia parliament on Monday.

The regional president praised workers for their efforts and went on to confirm that some local health centres the first line of coronavirus care and detection will be opening in the afternoons.

He said existing AVS staff would be paid extra if they wish to take on extra shifts at these centres.

He concluded by asking forgiveness from all residents in the region who have been unable to receive the attention they are used to because of the current pressure on the system caused by the pandemic.

Region has second lowest contagion figures in Spain

The announcement came after recent reports give the region a boost in its efforts to fight the virus.

Valencia has become the second Spanish region with the lowest Covid19 contagion rate in the whole of Spain and in fact had the lowest of all regions the previous week.

Figures produces by the national epidemiology surveillance network ( Renave) this week show that the average contagion rate in the Valencia region now stands at 115 cases per 100,000 residents ( only Asturias has a lower rate of 100). The national average was of 286 yesterday ( Thursday).

In this second wave, 39% of those tested in the Valencia region were asymptomatic.

Valencia's regional figures are also among the best in Spain regarding coronavirus hospital admissions, as Covid19 patients represent only 5% of those in hospital while the national average is of 8.21% ( 22% in Madrid).