ARCHIVED - Elche teenager infected in Covid outbreak after Mallorca trip moved to ICU

The student from the Elche in Alicante province, is one of more than 1,100 positives following the end-of-year trips to the Balearic Island.

An 18-year-old boy who tested positive for Covid after an end-of-year trip to Mallorca is in a serious condition in ICU at the General Hospital of Elche. 

He was hospitalised on June 24, and in the last few hours has been transferred to intensive care.

The school trips have led to an outbreak of more than 1,100 positives across Spain, with almost 5,000 people now in quarantine.

The Valencia regional Ministry of Health has confirmed the student's admission to ICU, but has revealed no more information about the teenager, stressing "confidentiality must be kept with respect to patients", while the regional president, Ximo Puig, has wished the young patient "a speedy recovery".

Meanwhile, the director of the Centre for Coordination of Alerts and Health Emergencies (CCAES), Fernando Simón, warned on Monday that Covid infection, although milder, can still cause "very serious" symptoms amongst young people. 

"Some will be hospitalised and it is possible that some may die," he said, adding: "The numbers will be slight, but the possibility is there."

Simón also warned that the age groups that are not immunised - currently, those under 40 - "are at greater risk". 

According to data from the Ministry of Health on Monday, the 'macro outbreak' has already left 1,167 people infected, 4,796 people in quarantine in nine autonomous communities,  and 12 people hospitalised.

This is more than 250 new infections in 24 hours, as regional health authorities across the country continue to trace, isolate and test students who may have come into contact with infected people.

The outbreak is believed to have originated at a concert at Palma bullring and various parties at hotels and on boats, where students from all over Spain mingled for the annual tradition of end of term parties following the University entry exams.

In light of the outbreak, university students across the Valencia region who will take part in Erasmus mobility programs and international internships during the next academic year, 2021-2022, will be vaccinated from next week.

IMAGE: Archive