Spain reports 11,016 new coronavirus cases as Madrid sees worst figures in two weeks

The Spanish Health Ministry recorded 11,016 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, a rise of 1,100 on Tuesday’s figure. The latest report on the Covid-19 pandemic added 177 new coronavirus-related fatalities to the official toll, a slight fall from the 203 deaths reported on Tuesday. But these two data points do not reveal whether the pandemic is on an upward or downward trend.

Coronavirus figures in Spain have been fluctuating for weeks, with daily infections between 9,000 and 12,000 and fatalities above 100. In the last three days, however, the number of deaths reported by the Health Ministry has been closer to 200. The official Covid-19 death toll in Spain now stands at 31,791, although this number does not include the tens of thousands of victims who were not subject to a PCR test during the first wave.

According to the latest report, 129 new Covid-19 patients were admitted into intensive care units (ICUs). This is the highest figure of the second wave and double the number reported one month ago. A total of 815 hospitalizations were recorded, 85 fewer than on Tuesday, but in line with the figures from the previous days.

Madrid continues to be the epicenter of the pandemic in Spain, reporting 44% of all new cases despite accounting for only 14% of the country’s population. According to Wednesday’s report, the region recorded 4,810 new infections, the highest figure in 12 days (excluding Monday reports, which include three days of figures as the Health Ministry does not issue figures over the weekend). The Madrid region recorded 57 deaths, the highest number reported on a weekday in two weeks.

However, the cumulative incidence of the coronavirus in Madrid over the past 14 days has fallen, dropping from 784 cases per 100,000 inhabitants on Tuesday – a record high of the second wave – to 735. This does not necessarily indicate a downward trend, as it is normal for this rate to fluctuate. The figure in Madrid is still more than double the national average of 284 and significantly higher than the second-worst affected region, Navarre, where it is at 681 cases. The regions with the next-highest incidence rate are La Rioja (460), Castilla-La Mancha (422), Castilla y León (386) and Murcia (385). The regions with the lowest rates are Galicia (104) and Valencia (105). But while the incidence rate in these two regions is much lower than in Madrid, it is similar to that of other European countries, such as the United Kingdom, which have approved new restrictions on social gatherings.

English version by Melissa Kitson.