Date Published: 05/01/2021
ARCHIVED - Sudden surge in new covid cases across Murcia Region; 765 in the last 24 hours. Tuesday 5th Jan
ARCHIVED ARTICLE This level of new cases has not been seen since the last Bank Holiday at the beginning of November
Image 1: number of new cases by day
As expected, the number of coronavirus cases reported in the Region of Murcia on Tuesday has suddenly started to increase and 765 new cases were diagnosed within the last 24 hour period, a level not seen since the pandemic experienced a similar surge following the All Saints and All Souls Bank Holiday weekend at the beginning of November.
The regional health authority carried out 4,410 PCR and antigen tests, but these yielded a positivity rate of 17.3%, more than five points higher than the day before, and three times the level being consistently reported before Christmas, adding more weight to the theory of health professionals that the virus has once again begun to circulate more aggressively than before.
Of the new 765 cases, 256 of the new cases are in the capital City of Murcia, 103 correspond to Cartagena, 40 to Lorca, 40 to Molina de Segura, 25 to La Unión, 21 to Fortuna, 21 to Jumilla, 20 to Los Alcázares, 20 to Torre Pacheco, 18 to Cieza, 15 to Abanilla, 15 to Caravaca de la Cruz, 15 to San Javier, 15 to San Pedro del Pinatar, 15 to Santomera, 15 to Yecla, 12 to Las Torres de Cotillas, 11 to Mula, 10 to Moratalla, 9 to Totana, 8 to Águilas, 7 to Alcantarilla , 6 to Mazarrón, 5 to Blanca, 5 to Bullas, and 5 to Ceutí, with the remainder distributed around the remaining municipalities in quantities below 5.
Image 2: distribution of cases around the region, the darker the colour, the higher the AI rate
Data at a glance:
New positive cases reported in the last 24 hours: 765
Confirmed cases since the beginning of the outbreak; 62,026
Total number of active cases: 5,007
Patients in home isolation with mild symptoms: 4,747
Total number of hospitalisations: 260 (+25)
Total number in ICU intensive care units : 74 (+8)
Total cured: 56,260
Total deaths: 759 (+2)
Total tests performed to date: 594,162 PCR / antigen and 85,286 Antibodies
R-rate: 1.29 (1.03 yesterday)
Image 3: AI rate showing worst affected municipalities
AI Rate:This means the worst affected municipalities over the last 7 day period are: Abanilla 963 cases per 100,000 of population, Fortuna 830, Villanueva 721, Jumilla 543, Los Alcázares 396, La Unión 395, San Pedro del Pinatar 357. Santomera 314, Torres de Cotillas 298 and Mula 284.
The regional average over 7 days has now risen to 222 per 100,000 of population over 7 days and 327 over 14 days.
The areas causig the most concern however, are the three major cities of Murcia with a rate of 228, Lorca 218 and Cartagena 204 as in all these cases the number of patients is significantly higher.
Although Abanilla has a rate of 963, its population is only 6,127, so the number of cases involved is just 59 in spite of it having the worst rate in the region, whereas in Murcia City, which has a rate of 228, the population is 453,258, so the number of cases in the last 7 days here is 1034.
Fatalities:
Two fatalities have been reported in the last 24 hours; two men aged 76 and 84 from Lorca and Cartagena, bringing the fatalities total to date up to 759.
Hospitalisations; 25 people entered hospital with more severe cases of coronavirus within the last 24 hours, a significant increase, and 8 patients went into intensive care units. The regional health authority has admitted its pre-occupation with this sudden rise and expects further pressure on health resources in the coming days as the festive-effect feeds through.