ARCHIVED - Incidence rate in Alicante province up 40 per cent in four days: Covid Update July 7

Cumulative incidence rate now stands at 77.16 cases per 100,000 people.

A rebound of Covid infections in Alicante province last week has led to a significant rise in the incidence rate, which has leapt from 54.9 cases per 100,000 on Friday to 77.16 - a hike of just over 40 per cent.

The highest concentration of new cases have been seen in the Elche health department, followed by the Marina Baixa, where incidence levels exceed 100 cases, while municipalities in the Vega Baja remain below 35.

While the rebound is a cause for concern, the province remains at 'medium risk', and well below the national average, which stood at 203 cases on Monday.

Vega Baja: Orihuela and Torrevieja are the only departments that remain at 'low risk'. The latter has reduced its incidence in four days, going from 41.95 to 34.32 cases and from 77 active infections to 63.

Orihuela was categorised as being in the 'new normal' - less than 25 infections per 100,000 population in the last 14 days - with a rate of 20.83 last week. And while this has risen to 33.33 cases, it is still the lowest in the province.

Marina Baixa: Cumulative incidence now stands at 118.14 cases, with 216 active cases. A breakdown of municipalities shows: Benidorm (119.23 cases per 100,000 and 84 active infections); Villajoyosa (113.64 and 40 active cases); Altea (115.26 and 26 active); La Nucia (165.17 and 30 active); and Alfaz del Pi (124.74 and 25 active).

Marina Alta: In the Denia health department, the incidence has risen from 78.53 on Friday to 108.42, while active cases are up from 134 to 185. In this region: Gata is considered 'high risk' with 208.23 incidence; Teulada has an incidence rate of 159; Calpe stands at 167.20 cases; and Javea, 167.76.

Elche: Elche health department has the highest cumulative incidence at the moment with 129.82, up 64 since Friday when it was 85.55 cases per 100,000 people. Active cases have also leapt from 143 to 217, though this has been attributed to an outbreak following end-of-year trips to Mallorca. 

Elche-Crevillente: The only one that has maintained its incidence rate without movement: 55.35 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and 87 active cases.

Alto Vinolopo: Biar is at 'extreme risk' with an incidence of 574.56 cases per 100,000 inhabitants - the highest in the province - and 21 active cases.

Alicante: Santa Pola has an incidence rate of 102.09 with 34 active cases; San Juan (103.58 and 232 active cases); General Hospital of Alicante (75.47 and 208 active cases); Alcoy (the rate has doubled in four days to 61.44 with 84 active cases).

The Valencia region, including Alicante province, has gone from having the lowest incidence six weeks ago (26 cases per 100,000 of population)  to being amongst the top five autonomous communities with the highest rate, behind Catalonia, Cantabria, Castilla y León and Navarra and now has a rate of 216.97 across the whole region.

Click here to see the latest Spanish national data, which is 22 times higher than on the same day last year.