THE WEATHER
Edition 354
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Friday 12th January 2018
See page 2 for the week’s forecast
FLU’S EARLY ARRIVAL
he annual flu epidemic has struck early in Alicante Province and the Murcia region, with five elderly people dying in Elda and Alicante City, whilst six people have died in Murcia from complications caused by the flu since last October. Influenza cases that normally reach a peak towards the end of January have reached similar levels four weeks early. Figures from the Murcia region health authorities report that around 500 additional people are visiting hospital emergency departments each day, compared to the same period last year, a rise of 40 percent. Two hundred and seventy extra workers have been taken on by Murcia’s hospitals to cope with the
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increased demand. As previously reported by The Courier, health centres in Orihuela and Torrevieja started reporting increased numbers of patients seeking treatment during the final week of 2017, with experts
saying that the current strain of flu is the most virulent for three years, especially with older residents. Extra facilities have been opened up at Torrevieja Hospital; the Vega Baja Hospital in Orihuela; and
Elche’s Vinalopó Hospital, with unions critical of low staffing and resourcing to deal with the flu outbreak. Flu vaccinations are still available from local health centres across Alicante Province and Murcia.
HIPPIES SLAM MAYOR
raders operating out of Torrevieja’s popular socalled Hippy Market located on the city’s Paseo de la Libertad are up in arms over what they describe as “insensitive” remarks by Mayor José Manuel Dolón over a planned move to the Levante dock area, which they are worried may be permanent. Torrevieja’s services councillor Domingo Soler has stated that with the recent completion of drainage improvements in the area, the focus will shift on refurbishing the Paseo, with traders concerned that they will not be allowed to return after the work is finished.
The 'Asociación de Comerciantes Hippies de Torrevieja' says that the market, which has attracted thousands of tourists for 40 years, has become one of the major focal points for Torrevieja, and has slammed the Mayor’s lack of sensitivity and respect over remarks that the walk was going to be developed to create a “healthier area” and to “remove” a market that sold clothes and handicrafts. 160 permanent wooden stalls are on the current site, which is nicknamed the 'Paseo de los Hippies', with the Asociación adding that a consensus has to be reached between the council and the traders before
announcing any moves that affect them. Asociación president Lola Escudero said that the market provides a livelihood for more than 200 families and that they needed to be respected over any future plans and changes. Torrevieja’s markets
councillor, Javier Manzanares, has said that he has met with the traders and told them that they would be informed as to when any work would start in their area, and they would be kept fully abreast of any plans from the Torrevieja government team.
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