Date Published: 16/10/2020
ARCHIVED - Just under 75,000 new covid cases in Spain this week; Friday 16th October
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
On Friday 16th the Ministry reported 15,186 new cases in a 24 hour period, the highest number yet reported for a single day
On Friday 8th October the total number of cases reported to date in Spain was 861,112, but on Friday 16th October the total had risen to 936,560 giving a weekly total of 74,448 new cases this week, or 10,635 a day.
This is just over 3,000 cases more than last week, when 71,180 were reported and is a renewed upward acceleration following two weeks in which a certain stabilisation had been achieved.
On Friday 16th October the Ministry of Health reported 15,186 new cases in a 24 hour period, the highest number yet reported for a single day in the duration of the pandemic to date.
Although all of the 17 autonomous regions are considered to be “at risk”, just 5 regions account for 70% of the cases reported today: Madrid, the Basque Country, Aragón, Navarra and Andalucía.
The accumulated incidence rate for the whole country, which calculates the number of cases per 100,000 of population over the last 14 days is now 280, rising from 258 last week, although this average figure masks considerable regional variation; at the top of the list is Navarra with 847, followed by the enclave of Melilla on the African coast with 549; Aragón with 455; La Rioja 453; Madrid 451;Castilla y León 412; Castilla La Mancha 343; Murcia 336; Ceuta 325; Basque Country 296; Catalonia 288; Extremadura 262; Andalucía 226; Asturias 206; Galicia 145; Balearic Islands 123; Cantabria 126; Valencia Region (including Alicante province) 115; Canary Islands 77.
The Spanish national average of 280 is considered to be a “maximum risk level” according to EU measurements.
Fatalities:
In terms of fatalities, the current fatalities count is 33,775 as opposed to 32,929, a very slight increase of just 3 deaths more than the 843 fatalities reported last week at 846, or 120.8 per day.
This is however, a long way from the level of deaths seen in the spring (see graph above)
Hospitalisations:
Although case rates are not significantly higher, this week there is a marked difference in the number of hospitalisations across Spain, with the number of beds occupied both on covid wards and in ICU units rising.
In terms of hospitalisations, there are currently 11,784 covid patients hospitalised across Spain, an increase of 1230 patients as compared to the 10,554 of last week. There are currently 1768 patients in intensive care this week as compared to 1590 in intensive care units last week.
The average occupacy rate for beds is 9.83% (8.66% last week) and the average occupancy for intensive care beds is 19.56% (17.91% last week).
The second wave of covid is also causing increasing concern in other areas of Europe, where many cities are experiencing significant increases in the number of patients treated in intensive care units (ICU), which could reach their limit within the coming weeks if cases continue to increase at current rates warned the World Organization of Health (WHO) today.
First day of 2 week closure of bars and restaurants in Catalonia:
45,000 bars and restaurants began an enforced 15 day closure today as part of measures to limit the spread of the virus, with business owners gathering in central Barcelona to protest against the decision of the regional Government. 40 million euros is being given to the sector as aid, but PIMEC says this is insufficient, only accounting for 5% of the total amount normally turned-over during this period.