Latest: Coronavirus in Spain figures (7 Sept)
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Report below updated in Spain at 17.45h on Friday 7 August
CORONAVIRUS in SPAIN – latest Health Ministry figures
The latest official figure* released by the Spanish Health Ministry on Friday 7 August for the number of people who have tested positive for Coronavirus (Covid-19) is now 314,362. This is an overall increase of 4,507 against the figure released on Thursday – although the ministry states that 1,895 infections have occurred in the past 24 hours. Figures today exclude data from Aragón where there had been 3,692 new infections over the past 7 days.
The ministry is still verifying and updating historical data (please also see discrepancies in figures* below). It has also not been updating any figures during the weekends since Friday 3 July.
Figures on Thursday had shown an overall increase of 4,088 infections compared to Wednesday – although Wednesday’s figure did not include data from Castilla La Mancha and the Basque Country. The ministry said it had been an increase of 1,683 infections in a 24 hour period.
Figures on Wednesday (excluding Castilla La Mancha and the Basque Country) had been an increase of 2,953 infections against Tuesday – with 1,772 in a 24 hour period.
Of the 1,895 new infections registered in the past 24 hours by the central Health Ministry in Spain, 567 are in Madrid, 403 in the Basque Country, 158 in the Valencia region, 158 in Andalusia, 113 in Catalonia, 108 in Navarra, 81 in Galicia, 67 in Murcia, 38 in Castilla y León, 37 in Castilla La Mancha, 30 in Cantabria, 30 in Extremadura and 28 in Asturias.
55 cases have been registered in the Canary Islands in the past 24 hours, and 6 in the Balearic Islands.
The current peak of recorded infections for a 24-hour period in Spain was on 31 March, when 9,222 new cases were registered.
The Ministry of Health’s official figures* for Friday 7 August also now show that there have been a total of 28,503 Coronavirus-related deaths in Spain – an increase of 3 since Thursday.
The current known peak of recorded deaths related to Coronavirus in a 24-hour period in Spain was on 2 April, when 950 deaths were registered.
A full breakdown of the data per region, together with age group statistics can be found by clicking here.
Health experts call for independent review of Spain’s Covid-19 response
In a letter published in the science publication The Lancet on 6 August, a group of 20 epidemiologists and health experts from Spain have called for an independent review of Spain’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic. They claim that despite Spain reportedly having one of the best healthcare systems in the world, it is one of the world’s worst affected countries.
They write that potential explanations ‘point to a lack of pandemic preparedness (ie, weak surveillance systems, low capacity for PCR tests, and scarcity of personal protective equipment and critical care equipment), a delayed reaction by central and regional authorities, slow decision-making processes, high levels of population mobility and migration, poor coordination among central and regional authorities, low reliance on scientific advice, an ageing population, vulnerable groups experiencing health and social inequalities, and a lack of preparedness in nursing homes.’
You can read the full letter by clicking here.
Advice, restrictions or quarantine measures for travellers to and from Spain
The United States has lifted its global health advice asking citizens to avoid all international travel. However, returning to providing specific country travel advice, the USA has now placed Spain in Level 3 out of four categories. The USA has advised its citizens to ‘reconsider’ any travel plans to Spain due to the Covid-19.
Health authorities in Hungary have now also removed Spain from a list of safe destinations to visit. From Friday, travellers arriving in Hungary from Spain will have to quarantine for 14 days or show two negative Coronavirus tests 48 hours apart taken within the last five days.
Health authorities in Switzerland have announced that they will be imposing 10-day self-isolation quarantine measures on travellers arriving from Spain, except from the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands. The measures start from this Saturday 8 August.
Last year 1.82 million citizens from Switzerland (with a population of 8.5m) travelled to Spain.
ALSO READ: UK-Spain tourism fall-out continues: ‘Many British tourists feel safer in Benidorm than at home
France has recommended against all travel to the Spanish region of Aragón, and against non-essential trips to Catalonia.
ALSO READ: France urges citizens not to travel to Catalonia [in 24 July report]
Germany has since announced that from Saturday it will be compulsory for travellers arriving from Aragón, Catalonia or Navarra to take a Coronavirus test upon entering the country.
ALSO READ: Germany advises against travelling to Catalonia, Aragón and Navarra
In the Czech Republic, workers arriving from Spain will have to self-isolate for two weeks or test negative for Coronavirus. This will not be imposed on tourists from Spain.
*Discrepancies in figures
Although the Health Ministry updated its official Coronavirus mortality figures on 19 June following on-going discrepancies with the data released by some of the country’s regional health authorities – there are still huge differences in the ‘excess mortality’ figures published for this period in Spain.
Click here for full report: Spain’s ‘excess mortality’ during Coronavirus pandemic is over 43,000
Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) published figures showing that the number of deaths for the first 21 weeks of 2020 have been 24% higher than for the same period in 2019 – based on information received from the country’s civil registries (1 January to 24 May). The number of deaths during this period for 2020 is 43,945 higher than in 2019.
Spain – ‘New Normality’
After three months under a ‘state of alarm’ (since 14 March), Spain entered its ‘New Normality’ phase on Monday 22 June, following on from the government’s four phased plan to relax the country’s lockdown restrictions. CLICK HERE for all details: Spain’s ‘New Normality’ – key points
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Click here for all previous reports on: Coronavirus in Spain
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