Global infections top 800,000 as death count surges in Spain

SPAIN’S coronavirus deaths yesterday jumped by a record number as the medical system strained to care for its tens of thousands of infected patients, and the world total climbed to more than 800,000 cases.

In the US, where the spread of the coronavirus has been accelerating, New York’s governor begged for healthcare reinforcements, saying up to a million more workers are needed.

Spain and Italy are still struggling to avoid the collapse of their health systems, with Spain saying hospitals in at least half of its 17 regions are at or near intensive care bed limits and more than 13,000 medical workers are among the country’s 94,417 infections.

Dozens of hotels across Spain have been converted into recovery rooms for patients in less serious condition, and authorities are building makeshift field hospitals in sports centres, libraries and exhibition halls.

By yesterday afternoon, Spain recorded 849 new deaths in one day, the highest daily toll since the pandemic hit.

It has killed 8,189 people in Spain, forcing Madrid to open a second temporary morgue this week after an ice rink pressed into service last week become overwhelmed.

Deaths climbed rapidly in the US, which is poised to overtake China’s reported virus death toll of 3,300, but experts say all numbers reported reported by governments and states are faulty in different ways, due to lack of testing, mild cases that are missed or the determination of some governments to shape their pandemic narrative.

“This is going to be a long-term battle and we cannot let down our guard,” said Takeshi Kasai, the World Health Organisation (WHO) regional director for the Western Pacific.