ARCHIVED - Almost 3500 new cases and four deaths: Covid Update July 26

1,100 new infections in Alicante province - highest figure in almost five months.

The rebound in new Covid cases continues in the Valencia region with 3,482 diagnosis and four deaths since Friday, according to data from the Ministry of Health, with new cases exceeding 1,000 in Alicante province for the first time since early March.

Hospital pressure is mounting with a surge in admissions, more evident in Alicante province where 140 Covid patients are being treated on wards - the highest number of admissions since February 14 - with 23 critically ill people in ICU, another high not seen since mid-April.

A positive amongst the worrying data is the fact there have been more 'recoveries' than new infections, but the Valencia regional government will be hoping new capacity and social/family gathering limitations which came into force today across the whole of the Community, and night curfews in 77 municipalities, including 18 in Alicante province, will have the desired effect of containing the virus.

Today's figures have led to a 15-point hike in the region's 14-day cumulative rate which now stands at 556 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, below the national average of 700. The region is behind the likes of Catalonia (1,145 cases); and Madrid (693), but above Murcia (419) and Andalusia (509).

New cases: 3,482 new cases of coronavirus confirmed by PCR or antigen testing, bringing the total number of positives to 452,283 people. By provinces: 1,110 in Alicante (161,608 in total) and 1,972 in Valencia (243,866 in total); and 400 in Castellón (46,807 in total).

Hospitals: There are currently 715 Covid patients being treated in Valencian hospitals (up from 586 on Friday, which was a 30 per cent increase on the previous week), of whom 91 are in ICU (up from 78 on Friday): 140 in Alicante province, 23 of them in ICU (up from 17); 500 in Valencia, 62 of them in ICU; and 75 in Castellón, six in ICU.

Recoveries: 4,700 people have recovered since the last update, meaning 426,291 people have been given the all-clear since the start of the pandemic: 154,019 in Alicante province; 228,065 in Valencia; and 44,148 in Castellón.

Fatalities: There have sadly been four reported deaths in the last seven days, meaning the total remains at 7,482: 2,851 in Alicante; 3,812 in Valencia; and 810 in Castellón.

Active cases: There are currently 29,972 active cases, which represent 6.46 per cent of the total positives.

Vaccinations: A total of 3,107,318 people have now received at least one dose and 2,589,521 are fully immunised. By provinces: 931,550 in Alicante; 1,351,994 in Valencia; and 305,977 in Castellón.

IMAGE: Archive