Active cases of Covid- 19 on the rise
THE NUMBER of active cases of Covid- 19 has shot up in the Valencia region in the last seven days.
The regional health department reported 6,716 active cases on Wednesday, with the figures rising from 5,368 on October 14. The rapid increase follows six weeks of declining numbers.
As a result Valencia has brought in emergency measures for Orihuela, Elche and other areas ( see p17) and is considering bringing in a night- time curfew for the whole region.
The rise in cases is also having an impact on hospitals.
The number of people being treated with coronavirus has gone up from 531 to 735 in the last seven days.
A total of 115 of these patients are in intensive care wards – up by 37 on last week.
The total death toll for the Valencia region now stands at 1,743 – an increase of 37 in last seven days.
New localised outbreaks reported on Wednesday in Alicante province were in Torrevieja ( six cases – workplace origin); Elda ( five and four cases – workplace origin); Elche ( five, five and six cases – all of social origin); Jacarilla ( six cases – social origin); Algorfa ( four cases – workplace origin); Orihuela ( three cases – school); Benejúzar ( five cases – workplace origin); Alcoy ( five cases – social origin); and Cox ( four cases – workplace origin).
Regional councillor for health Ana Barceló asked for ‘ maximum collaboration from residents to halt the advance of the pandemic.
“We need people to tighten up their precautionary measures to stop the number of cases rising and to halt the chains of transmission,” she said. “It is probable that the situation will get worse with the arrival of the cold weather.”
Local figures
One of the largest rises in active cases in Alicante province in the last week has occurred in Orihuela – up from 116 to 203. The number of active cases
in Elche also continues to grow – up from 359 to 442.
Torrevieja’s figures have gone down from 46 to 41; and in Rojales cases have gone up from six to 11.
In the Marina Alta, whilst 15 extra cases have been diagnosed in the past week, the net increase is just three, with 46 active at present.
Slight rises have been seen in a handful of towns, bringing Denia’s total to 11, Gata’s and Calpe’s to four and Jalón’s to three, whilst Jávea remains unchanged at eight.
Three cases are active in Ondara, Teulada, and Benissa, and one each in Alcalalí, Beniarbeig, Benitatchell, Els Poblets, Pedreguer and Pego.
Murla had not reported a single case all year until this week, when its first and only positive was recorded.
Oliva has made excellent progress, halving its contagion numbers in a week from 29 to 15, and in Gandia last week’s 24 cases has soared to 45.