Spain´s Covid Infection Rate Reaches New High As Madrid Tightens Curfew

The Spanish Government has reported a record high of 38,869 new coronavirus cases in a single day, which is the worst figure since the start of the pandemic.

The cumulative number of infections per 100,000 inhabitants is now above the extreme risk level of 500 in nine of the country’s 17 autonomous communities headed by Extremadura on 1,131, Murcia on 713 and Madrid with 621.

The government’s target is for a rate of less than 25 per 100,000 inhabitants.

The Health Minister, Salvador Illa, warned of a “significant rise” in cases over the coming ” difficult weeks”.
The national avaerage 14-day cumulative number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 inhabitants is now 492.88, a rise of 94% since December 23d.
The rise is impacting the number of hospitalizations with 18,215 coronavirus patients, representing some 14.6 % of hospital beds, of which 2,744 people are in ICU ( Intensive Care Units) representing just under 25% of the total.
The increased numbers are attributed to the Christmas period when there were increased number of social and family gatherings.

The figures for the Madrid region are equally high with 14.8% of available hospital beds taken with coronavirus patients.The purpose built Isabel Zendal facility has been taking much of the strain so as not to overwhelm the capital´s main hospitals of  Gregorio Marañón, La Paz, Infanta Leonor and Octubre 12.

Despite the further restrictions implemented by the Madrid regional government with an increased number of local lockdowns among the regions 286 basic health areas the rate of infection continues to grow with 92% of the basic health zones ( ZBS) with cummulative rates of 400 or above.

The trigger for a local lockdown is 500 per 100,000 inhabitants.

The regional government announced that the curfew would be tightened with a new start time of 23.00 every night and all bars and restaurants closed by 22.00.

The measures will be in place from Monday 18th January for an initial period of 14 days.

To date, Spain has recorded 2,211,967 cases of whom 53,079 have died.

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