ARCHIVED - Almost 3,000 coronavirus cases in Spain by Thursday lunchtime

The numbers continue to soar as schools close in at least 5 of the 17 regions of Spain

The latest updates according to official sources throughout Spain

The latest information regarding the number of coronavirus cases detected in Spain, the number of fatalities and the number of patients given the all-clear, is as follows at 13.00 on Thursday 12th March):

Total cases in Spain: 2,968

More than 800 in the last 24 hours (total updated at 13.00 on Thursday, breakdown of regions updated as and when information is received)

Deaths: 86 (including 34 in the last 24 hours)

Patients in intensive care: 142

Recoveries: 189

Breakdown by region (note: the total may not add up to the officially confirmed national figure as some regions publish information in advance)

Madrid: 1,388 (38 deaths)

Basque Country: 346 (7 deaths)

La Rioja: 205 (2 deaths)

Catalunya: 260 (3 deaths)

Andalucía: 115

Castilla-La Mancha: 115

Comunidad Valenciana: 94 (1 death)

Castilla y León: 92

Navarra: 73

Aragón: 64 (4 deaths)

Canaries: 51

Asturias: 47

Galicia: 35

Murcia: 29 (1 in intensive care)

Balearics: 22 (1 death)

Extremadura: 19

Cantabria: 16

Please follow Murcia Today on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest updates locally for the Region of Murcia and the main information for the rest of Spain: https://www.facebook.com/MurciaToday/. Please note, Facebook is limiting the number of posts we are able to make in local groups, and the sheer volume of incoming information is overwhelming, so all updates and cancellations of events etc in the Murcia region will be posted on this main page and may not be shared into many local groups. PLEASE help to support the flow and sharing of information by following this page and sharing the information into groups to which you have access.

Click here to keep abreast of the latest official figures regarding the coronavirus epidemic in Spain and the measures implemented by the national and regional governments.

What to do if you are in the Region of Murcia and believe you may have contracted the virus

The regional government has set up a special helpline to supply information to members of the public (900 121212), and also urges people to call the 112 emergency services line if they suspect that they may have contracted the virus rather than going straight to hospital or to a medical centre. Medical staff will be sent to your home to test for the virus.

The Region’s public hospitals have limited the number of visitors to just one per patient.

Sensible precautions

The advice being issued to members of the public by medical authorities all over the world coincides on the following points:

- Wash hands frequently with either soap and water or a sanitiser gel

- Catch coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues – and throw the tissues away immediately after use before immediately washing your hands!

- If you don’t have a tissue, use your sleeve – and wash the item of clothing used at the next opportunity

- AVOID touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

- AVOID close contact with people who are unwell

- Don´t panic!