ARCHIVED - First coronavirus case in Cartagena as the total in Murcia doubles to 11

All patients present mild symptoms and only three are being treated in hospital

The number of coronavirus cases confirmed in the Region of Murcia remains relatively low, at least for the time being, but another six diagnoses on Tuesday brought the total up to 11 as the regional government continues to assess the possibility of introducing more sweeping measures to halt the progress of the epidemic.

With the total number of cases reported in Spain moving up towards 2,000 the latest figures in Murcia seem at first sight to be trivial, but it is interesting to note how the figure has more or less doubled on a daily basis since the first case was confirmed. That was on Saturday, on Sunday the figure rose to 2, on Monday to 5 and on Tuesday to 11, and if the trend is maintained then by Wednesday evening the figure will be approximately 20.

The two most recent cases which were confirmed on Tuesday evening concern a student who returned to Cartagena from Italy, where she had been studying as part of the “Erasmus” exchange scheme, and a patient who is thought to have contracted the virus in Madrid. All eleven of the cases detected in Murcia have been traced to outside the Region, and although it appears unrealistic to hope that this will continue to be the case for long it is also encouraging that none of the patients presents symptoms described as anything more than “mild”.

Indeed, eight of them are in isolation in their own homes, the only three exceptions being a 34-year-old mother and her 5-month-old baby and a 40-year-old man who are in the Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca in El Palmar, although even these cases are not described as serious.

Seven of the eleven cases were detected in the municipality of Murcia itself, the only exceptions being the student in Cartagena, a 62-year-old man in Puerto de Mazarrón and the mother and baby in Totana.

At present, according to Manuel Villegas, the minister for Health in the regional government, the number of cases in Murcia is not in itself a cause for alarm, but he and his colleagues are anxious to avoid a scenario in which the resources of the SMS (the health service of the Region) are overstretched in the way which has occurred in Madrid. For this reason, although the government is resisting the temptation to take drastic steps in order to slow the spread of the epidemic, measures such as the closure of schools and the banning of events which large numbers of people are likely to attend cannot be discounted in the near future.

Elsewhere in Spain, schools have been closed for at least a fortnight in the region of Madrid, the Basque city of Vitoria and the region of La Rioja, and in the same areas temporary bans are in place on indoor events with more than 1,000 spectators. Throughout the country the State-funded “Imserso” travel scheme for pensioners has been suspended for at least a month and all sports events (both professional and amateur) are to be held behind closed doors, and in Valencia the main events of the “Fallas” fiestas which were due to take place next week have been postponed indefinitely.

Patients diagnosed with Covid-19 in Murcia

1 - A 27-year-old woman who contracted the virus in Madrid while attending the ARCO contemporary arts fair. In isolation at home.

2 and 3 - A 5-month-old baby and her mother, both of whom had travelled to and from Madrid by bus, returning to Totana. In the Arrixaca hospital in El Palmar.

4 – A 28-year-old friend of the first patient who lives in Valencia but had gone to Madrid with her friend and was diagnosed positive in Murcia. In isolation at home.

5 – A woman who also contracted the virus in Madrid. In isolation at home.

6 and 7 – Two men aged 70 and 26 who were infected in Madrid. In isolation at home.

8 – A man who is believed to have contracted the virus from a contact in Alicante, who originally contracted the virus in Madrid.

9 - A 40-year-old woman with "mild "symptoms who is believed to have contracted the virus in Madrid.

10 – Female Erasmus student who returned from Italy to Cartagena.

11 – Unidentified female patient who was infected in Madrid.

Click here for the latest official figures regarding the coronavirus epidemic in Spain and the measures implemented by the national and regional governments.

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