Health authorities in Andalusia, Spain, confirmed 68 cases of COVID-19 among staff members of the Carlos Haya Regional Hospital, in Malaga.
The professionals had attended a Christmas dinner with 170 people on December 1.
According to the newspaper El País in Spain, the infected people belong to the intensive care unit of the medical center.
To attend the event, they had been tested for the virus and were vaccinated up to the booster dose.
Most of those infected are part of the nursing staff.
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The experts' explanation, so far, is that the antigen tests that were carried out could give false negatives.
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Those who became ill have mild symptoms and are isolated.
There is no information on whether they are cases caused by the omicron variant, according to local press.
After the outbreak was known, the Health delegation of the Junta de Andalucía recommended to all hospitals not to hold Christmas meetings.
More cases in the holiday season
Globally, health authorities are asking to continue with precautionary measures during this Christmas season and beyond, after the omicron variant, which is highly contagious, became known.
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In the United States, a week after the Thanksgiving celebrations on November 23,
an average of 100,000 cases of COVID-19 were registered per day, something that had not happened for two months.
Until now it is not known if the vaccines that are available are effective against omicron, therefore, experts have recommended continuing with the measures that we already know.
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Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House's chief medical adviser, urged people to get vaccinated and get the booster.
He said this is still the most effective way to attack the virus.
"There are many reasons to believe that if you get vaccinated and given the booster, you will have at least some degree of cross-protection, most likely against severe disease and even the omicron variant," Fauci said at a response team briefing. from the White House to the coronavirus.
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According to the president, Joe Biden, the use of masks will remain mandatory until March 18 inside airports, bus terminals, trains and all public transportation.
In addition, from this Monday, international travelers must present a negative test carried out within 24 hours of their flight.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that those traveling be fully vaccinated.
In its guide to Christmas gatherings published in October, before the new variant was known, the CDC notes that meetings can be held with a close circle of family or friends and, if possible, held outdoors.
