RISING FIGURES CAUSE CONCERN

Number of coronavirus new cases and hospital admissions soar

THE VALENCIA region has reported the worst week so far of the second wave of the new coronavirus pandemic.

Almost 4,000 new cases of Covid- 19 have been reported in the Valencia region over the past week and 21 deaths ( nine of which were reported in one single day). The number of overall tests carried out in the region since March is now close to one million - a reason some experts give to explain the rise in overall cases detected. However, hospital admissions are increasing as a result and health officials are deeply concerned as there are over 500 Covid- 19 patients in hospitals throughout the region now and 68 in ICUs.

Although still far from the peak reached in April in the region, figures are increasing rapidly and new measures are being considered.

CORONAVIRUS figures in the Valencia region have taken a turn for the worse this week with nine deaths in just one day reported on Wednesday.

The number of new daily cases was 548, increasing the overall tally to 33,192 since the epidemic first struck the region ( the breakdown shows 18,814 in Valencia province, 10,697 in Alicante and 3,676 in Castellón).

Of these daily infections, 45 were in Castellón province, 221 in Valencia and 281 in Alicante, while five had not been assigned.

Hospital admissions are also increasing and so are the number of ICU patients with Covid- 19. There are currently 507 patients with new coronavirus in the entire region: Valencia province has 298 admissions with 32 in ICUs, Alicante 152 with 29 in ICUs and Castellón 57 and seven respectively.

Six densely populated muncipalities within Alicante province registered the hightest number of new cases reported over the past week, namely: Alicante, Torrevieja, Elche, Orihuela, Dénia and Benidorm.

Concern in the south

In the southern Costa Blanca, the Torrevieja health department is worst affected with 254 cases during the last 14 days and 63 deaths over the course of the pandemic, followed by Orihuela with 196 and 26 respectively.

The Elche- Crevillente health department has recorded 115 cases in the last 14 days and 13 deaths so far, while the Elche department has 115 recent cases and accumulated 13 deaths.

By municipality, the new cases over the last fortnight have been overwhelmingly concentrated in Elche ( 180), Torrevieja ( 110), Orihuela ( 95) and Pilar de la Horadada ( 90).

Black week for Marina Alta

Castell de Castells' first- ever Covid- 19 patient to die passed away the same week as he was diagnosed, whilst Teulada is mourning its only fatality this year.

Two more Marina Alta patients have died in hospital from Covid- 19, only the fourth since the end of April – and, sadly, the first in their respective towns.

One was from Castell de Castells – not only the first death, but the first case of the virus in the village all year, reported only this week – and the other was from Teulada, one of a total of eight active cases.

Their ages have not been revealed, and last week health authorities reported that the four being treated in intensive care at Dénia hospital ranged from young adults to the elderly.

The district's 31 towns and villages have suffered a total of 23 deaths from Covid- 19 this year – the first 19 being in March and April alone.

Eight of these were in Dénia, two of whom were reported this month.

Also this week, Sanet y Negrals reported its first case of the virus, having been untouched by it until now, and the sole diagnosis reported in neighbouring Benimeli remains active.

Elsewhere, the number of new cases has slowed down and more have recovered in the last week than been diagnosed – Dénia had 217 positives last week, but is now down to 198, whilst Calpe's 34 has shrunk to 29, Jávea's 44 to 42, Pego's eight has fallen to four, one of Beniarbeig's four has recovered, as have two of the five in Els Poblets, three of Jalón's four, and three of last week's 26 in Ondara.

But a new case each has been detected in the Vall de Laguar and Benidoleig, Benissa has risen from three to five, Gata de Gorgos from four to seven, and two more diagnoses in El Verger has brought its active total to 10.

Orba's five from last week remains the same – in a town which managed to totally escape the virus until the end of August.

Fewer cases in La Safor

Covid- 19 cases in La Safor have fallen in numbers this week despite four outbreaks being notified, and only seven towns - Potries, Ador, Miramar, Piles, Bellreguard, Villalonga and Tavernes de la Valldigna - have seen an increase.

Tavernes has had the highest Covid mortality rate in La Safor, at 13, although thankfully, none have been reported since the end of April. Elsewhere, several recoveries have been reported – Gandia's 196 has dropped to 145 while soaring numbers brought Oliva's active case total to 69 last week, but 20 of these have now recovered, with 49 remaining positive.

Murcia infections continue

A total of 6,783 people are currently infected with Covid- 19 in Murcia region, according to the last figures released on Thursday by regional councillor for health José Manuel Villegas.

Nearly 6,500 people have only mild symptoms and they are being quarantined in their homes, whereas 330 people are recovering in hospital and 58 of them are in ICU.

The authorities also reported that five elderly people have passed away this week due to Covid- 19.

Councillor Villegas said that the municipalities with the highest number of cases recorded are Murcia, Totana, Lorca and Cartagena.

He urged residents to adhere strictly to the rules and asked them to limit their social life for the next month in order to reduce the increasing infection rates.