Spain: Almost 38,000 more virus cases seen over weekend

After infections appeared to have stabilized last week, Spain saw another surge in coronavirus cases on Monday, with the Health Ministry reporting 37,889 new infections over the weekend.

Infections are up by more than 25% compared to the same three-day period last week, when Spanish health officials reported 28,856 new infections.

Over the last 14 days, Spain has detected nearly 147,000 new coronavirus infections. More than 12% of all coronavirus tests are coming back positive.

After the virus overwhelmed tracers, authorities announced on Monday that two more Spanish cities will enforce sanitary cordons and stricter measures to prevent the virus from spreading further.

The cities of Burgos and Aranda de Duero will restrict all non-essential movement beginning on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. This will be the third separate confinement of Aranda de Duero since summer.

Dozens of other Spanish cities find themselves in the same situation – including Madrid, though authorities are expected to lift the measures there on Friday.

This weekend, the enclave of Melilla and Catalonia became the first region to close all bars and restaurants for a period of at least 15 days.

Catalonia has seen a sharp surge in cases, and local media report that authorities are also mulling enforcing a curfew.

Along with a surge in cases, active hospitalizations rose over the weekend across much of Spain. There are currently 12,945 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, occupying 10.4% of Spain’s hospital beds and 21% of its intensive care units.

At the same time, the Health Ministry reported 217 more deaths from the disease this weekend.