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The total number of coronavirus cases in Spain has exceeded half a million, data from the Ministry of Health showed today, as the government struggled to contain an increase in infections in one of the most affected countries in Europe.
The country of around 47 million people has recorded 525,549 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 29,516 related deaths, since its first case was diagnosed on Jan. 31 on the remote Canary Island of La Gomera, the ministry said.
This gives Spain a per capita infection rate roughly double that of France and Italy, according to an AFP tally based on official data.
Spain was one of the worst hit countries when the coronavirus hit Europe this year before one of the world’s tightest lockdowns helped reduce the spread of the outbreak.
But infections have risen since lockdown measures were completely removed in late June, the rise in infections often attributed to the return of nightlife and group activities.
During the last two weeks, the country has registered an average of 7,000 to 8,000 new cases per day, around a third of them in the Community of Madrid.
But the death rate is well below that recorded at the height of the health crisis in late March and April, when nearly 900 deaths were reported a day, as the median age of new infections dropped to around of 40.
Asymptomatic cases also account for a much higher proportion of positive results, largely due to an increase in testing.
“The situation is much more favorable but we continue in an ascending phase,” said the emergency coordinator of the Ministry of Health, Fernando Simón.
The surge in infections comes as Spain is reopening its schools after they closed in March, and some parents say they are afraid to send their children to classes.
The government has implemented several measures to curb the risk of infections in schools, including requiring the use of masks for anyone six years and older and the need to wash their hands frequently.
Last month he ordered the closure of nightclubs and cocktail bars and reduced the hours of operation of restaurants to try to stem the increase in infections.
The government expects the tourism-dependent country’s economy to contract 9.2% this year under the weight of the pandemic.
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