How Spain Responded to The Covid Crisis

As the Spanish government struggles with the response to the recent Covid outbreak, there are several factors to consider. These include the Spanish government’s lack of preparedness, a lack of medical equipment and tests, and political polarization. As a result, there is a serious lack of coordinated action to control the outbreak.

Lack of medical equipment

Spain’s health services are suffering because of a severe shortage of medical equipment. Despite a government pledge to supply 550 million masks, 5.5 million diagnostic tests and 950 pieces of assisted breathing equipment, shortages continue to persist. While Spain has responded responsibly so far, it needs to do more to overcome a decade of underinvestment in its health services.

Spain’s healthcare system is largely dependent on imported medical equipment. Although medical equipment manufacturing in Spain is mostly performed by small and midsize companies, there are a handful of large companies that dominate the domestic market. This makes the market highly accessible to foreign manufacturers.

Lack of tests

The lack of COVID tests in Spain is causing major problems in the country’s healthcare system. The lack of these tests has led to under-reporting of cases, overestimated mortality rates, and poor surveillance. It has also led to people not taking recommended isolation measures for unidentified patients, resulting in further spread of the disease. Nevertheless, the government is taking action to address this situation. It is implementing a plan to test at least 62,000 people, taking into account location and gender. The plan is aimed at the areas most affected by the disease.

The Bioeasy test involves dipping a sample of saliva into a protein extraction, which then gives color indications of the presence or absence of the virus. The test is critical for emergency examinations in hospitals, as well as improvised drive-through clinics. Previously, hospitals in Spain relied on slow, inefficient molecular laboratory tests, which take four hours to complete. In contrast, the Bioeasy test is supposed to give a diagnosis in 15 minutes.

Political polarization

Spain is not alone in its ideological polarization, as it is closely mirrored in the United States. Many other countries in Europe are split between those who want more control over their internal affairs and those who want to form a united Europe. The decisions of the European Union’s leaders are important for the economic outlook of Spain.

The coalition government failed to take decisive action and was hampered by internal rifts. Ministers from different parties had competing agendas and their differences were playing out publicly. A recent example of this is the government’s squabble over whether or not to declare a state of emergency. The pro-Independence Catalan government has been upbraiding the central government every day.

Slow response

Spain is battling two chronic problems: poverty and food insecurity. The 2008 global financial crisis has made both problems worse. The Covid 19 pandemic is only compounding the problems. Food and medical supplies are scarce, and the country lacks strategic reserves. However, the Spanish government is working to address these issues.

The Spanish government has acknowledged its slow response to the epidemic. A report sent to the lower house of parliament has revealed that the government failed to act in time when there was a looming epidemic. The report, drafted by the National Security Council, includes statements from the prime minister and deputy prime minister, and ministers of the interior, defense, and exterior.