28th March 2024
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Coronavirus in Spain figures (21 Oct) – now over 1 million cases

Latest: Coronavirus in Spain figures (10 Nov)

Also read: Details of curfews & restrictions for all regions of Spain during ‘State of Alarm’

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Report below updated in Spain at 18.50h on Weds 21 Oct

CORONAVIRUS in SPAIN – latest Health Ministry figures

The latest official figure* released by the Spanish Health Ministry on Wednesday 21 October for the number of people who have tested positive for Coronavirus (Covid-19) since the start of the pandemic is now 1,005,295. This is an overall increase of 16,973 against the figure released on Tuesday – although the ministry claims that 6,114 of these infections have occurred in the past 24 hours. Figures today exclude a full update from the Basque Country for ‘technical reasons’.

There have now been 156,450 cases of Coronavirus detected in the past 14 days – out of the total 1,005,295. The figure for the past 7 days is 83,825.

Figures released today also show that 3,931 people have required hospital treatment in the past 7 days, with 274 in intensive care.

The official figure* for the total number of Coronavirus-related deaths on Wednesday 21 October is now 34,366 – an increase of 156 since Tuesday. It is a total of 575 deaths in 7 days.

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.

Increase in infections

Figures released on Tuesday had shown an overall increase of 13,873 infections against Monday – with the ministry claiming that 5,314 had occurred in a 24 hour period.

Monday had seen an overall increase of 37,889 infections against Friday – yet 3,750 in a 24 hour period. The ministry has not been updating its figures during the weekends since Friday 3 July.

The current peak of recorded infections for a 24-hour period in Spain was on 31 March, when 9,222 new cases were registered.

When Spain imposed its state of alarm from Saturday 14 March, the Health Ministry had confirmed 4,231 known cases of Coronavirus at the time (figures of Friday 13 March), with 121 deaths. By Monday 16 March, there had been a further 4,960 infections. The total death toll on 16 March had increased to 309.

Of the 6,114 new infections registered in the past 24 hours by the Health Ministry on Wednesday 21 October, the numbers per region are as follows:

  • 2,235 in Madrid (28,803 new cases in past 14 days)
  • 615 in Catalonia (30,785)
  • 518 in Andalusia (25,372)
  • 477 in Galicia (4,966)
  • 389 in Aragón (7,159)
  • 367 in Navarra (6,684)
  • 365 in Extremadura (3,395)
  • 186 in Asturias (2,726)
  • 179 in La Rioja (1,780)
  • 157 in Cantabria (1,048)
  • 147 in the Canary Islands (1,747)
  • 130 in Murcia (5,349)
  • 90 in Castilla La Mancha (7,256)
  • 71 in the Valencia Region (6,620)
  • 68 in the Balearic Islands (1,582)
  • 46 in the Basque Country (7,707) – full update not provided
  • 44 in Castilla y León (12,425)
  • 12 in Ceuta (323)
  • 18 in Melilla (723)

A full breakdown of the data per region, together with age group statistics can be found by clicking here.

Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME)
Personnel of the ‘Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME)’ carrying out disinfecting duties in the ‘Operación Balmis’ during the height of the state of alarm in April 2020. (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Defence / UME)

Restrictions during the ‘New Normality’

Following on from the Spanish government’s four phased plan to relax the country’s lockdown restrictions that took place during May-June, the country started its ‘New Normality’ on 22 June. It coincided with the central government ending the nationwide state of alarm that had been in place since 14 March. Since 22 June, responsibility for public healthcare and managing the Coronavirus pandemic has been left in the hands of Spain’s 17 regional governments.

On 14 August, however, Spain announced strict new measures on nightlife across the whole country – as well as a ban on smoking outside, where social distancing cannot be maintained. The wearing of face masks also remains obligatory. Each region of Spain has since imposed the nightlife and socialising restrictions following their own timetables – and some regions have made restrictions even tighter. In Catalonia, for example, all bars and restaurants have been closed for 15 days since Friday 16 October, permitting takeaway and delivery services only. A state of alarm was imposed on the region of Madrid on Friday 9 October, officially for a period of 15 days. Social gatherings in some regions are only permitted with up to a maximum of 6 peopleRead about the initial measures here: Spain imposes strict new measures on nightlife across the country

*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 Spain during the first half of this year.

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 were 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 was 43,945 higher than in 2019.

Click here for all previous reports on: Coronavirus in Spain

ALSO READ: Spain will consider ‘nationwide curfew’ via a new ‘state of alarm’

ALSO READ: Catalonia restricts opening hours of late night shops to stop ‘botellons’

ALSO READ: Catalonia’s hospitality industry protests against closure of bars & restaurants

ALSO READ: ‘State of Alarm’ imposed on Madrid 

ALSO READ: Spain’s ‘New Normality’ – key points

ALSO READ: Face masks to remain compulsory until vaccine found, under ‘new normality’

ALSO READ: Lifting of lockdown in Spain – full details of all phases for all regions

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