18th April 2024
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Coronavirus in Spain (15 Dec) – incidence rate rises again, now at 198

Latest: Coronavirus in Spain figures (11 Jan)

Also read: Restrictions in Spain for Christmas and New Year period

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Report below updated in Spain at 19.30h on Tues 15 Dec

CORONAVIRUS in SPAIN – latest Health Ministry figures

The latest official figure* released by the Spanish Health Ministry on Tuesday 15 December for the number of people who have tested positive for Coronavirus (Covid-19) since the start of the pandemic is now 1,762,212. This is an overall increase of 10,328 against the figure released on Monday. The ministry claims that 5,215 of these infections have occurred in the past 24 hours.

Figures released on Monday had shown an overall increase of 21,309 infections since Friday, with the ministry claiming that 2,448 had occurred in a 24-hour period.

Friday had seen an overall increase of 10,519 infections over Thursday, yet 5,849 in a 24-hour period. The ministry has not released figures during the weekends since Friday 3 July.

The overall accumulated incidence rate for Spain is now 198.77 per 100,000 inhabitants for the past 14 days (yesterday’s figure was 193.65 and last Thursday it had been 188.72). It remains over 200 in ten regions: Aragón (225.73), Asturias (220.57), the Balearic Islands (291.62), Cantabria (236.46), Castilla La Mancha (239.56), Catalonia (209.99), the Valencia region (227.31), Madrid (237.21), the Basque Country (266.69) and La Rioja (211.81) – as well as in the autonomous city of Melilla (228.94).

The peak of recorded infections for a 24-hour period during this ‘second wave’ in Spain was on 30 October, when 9,723 cases were registered. During the ‘first wave’, it was on 31 March when 9,222 cases were registered.

There have now been 93,473 cases of Coronavirus detected in the past 14 days – out of the total 1,762,212. The figure for the past 7 days is 46,228.

There are currently 11,736 people requiring hospital treatment for Covid-19 in Spain, of which 2,027 are in intensive care. This represents a 21.15% occupation of intensive care beds by Covid-19 patients.

The official figure* for the total number of Coronavirus-related deaths on Tuesday 15 December is now 48,401 – an increase of 388 since Monday. It is now a total of 773 deaths in the past 7 days.

The highest increase of deaths to date for a 24-hour period during this ‘second wave’ in Spain was on 24 November when 537 were registered. The peak of recorded deaths for a 24-hour period during the ‘first wave’ was on 2 April when 950 were registered.

Increase in infections per region

Of the 5,215 new infections claimed by the Health Ministry to have only been registered in the past 24 hours on Tuesday 15 December, the numbers per region are as follows:

  • 1,508 in Madrid (last 24 hour increase was 289)
  • 1,476 in Catalonia (418)
  • 329 in the Basque Country (293)
  • 288 in Galicia (315)
  • 268 in Castilla y León (127)
  • 199 in the Valencia Region (6)
  • 187 in Aragón (141)
  • 159 in the Balearic Islands (100)
  • 156 in Andalusia (151)
  • 122 in Asturias (143)
  • 113 in the Canary Islands (123)
  • 102 in Navarra (68)
  • 84 in Castilla La Mancha (46)
  • 70 in Cantabria (81)
  • 65 in Murcia (5)
  • 37 in La Rioja (28)
  • 11 in Extremadura (111)
  • 16 in Ceuta (2)
  • 25 in Melilla (1)

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

People with face masks walking along La Rambla boulevard in central Barcelona
People with face masks walking along La Rambla boulevard in central Barcelona, decorated with Christmas lights. (Mariona Gil)

New ‘State of Alarm’ – restrictions across Spain

The Spanish Congress voted to extend the new State of Alarm until 9 May 2021. The State of Alarm was declared on Sunday 25 October to combat further cases of Coronavirus, initially for a period of 15 days. The key purpose is to enable the regional governments of Spain the legal requirements to impose and enforce nighttime curfews and other restrictions, where required. Full details here: New ‘State of Alarm’ in Spain.

In a separate report and being regularly updated, we have detailed all the curfew times and key restrictions in place for each region of Spain. Most regions have issued border closures and there are many municipality confinements. Many regions have also restricted the opening hours of bars and restaurants, or ordered their closure. Our full, on-going report is here: Details of curfews & restrictions for all regions of Spain during ‘State of Alarm’ – Also read our report on: Proposed restrictions for Christmas and New Year period in Spain.

Spain changes Covid-19 test requirements for travellers

Spain changed the Covid-19 test requirements for travellers arriving to the country from Thursday 10 December, via airports or ports. Since Monday 23 November, travellers arriving in Spain from high-risk countries had had to show proof of a negative PCR test done within 72 hours of arrival. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to €6,000. However, a negative result from a TMA (Transcription-Mediated Amplification test) is now also valid, ‘and other tests based on equivalent molecular techniques’. Spain has also removed the obligation to present any negative test for children under the age of sixFull report here: Spain changes Covid-19 test requirements for travellers.

*Discrepancies in figures

Although the Health Ministry updated its official Coronavirus mortality figures on 19 June following discrepancies with the data released by some of the country’s regional health authorities – there are still differences in the ‘excess mortality’ figures published for Spain during at least the first half of this year.

Click here for all previous reports on: Coronavirus in Spain

ALSO READ: Spain changes Covid-19 test requirements for travellers

ALSO READ: Spain’s Health Ministry divides the population into 15 groups for vaccination

ALSO READ: Restrictions for Christmas and New Year period in Spain

ALSO READ: Fines up to €6,000 for travellers to Spain arriving without negative PCR test

ALSO READ: Details of curfews & restrictions for all regions of Spain during ‘State of Alarm’

ALSO READ: Catalonia’s four phase plan to lift Covid-19 restrictions – full details

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