The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Spain surpasses China with 85,195 infections
Healthcare systems in European nations under severe pressure over Covid-19
Spain has become the third country to surpass China in coronavirus infections after the United States and Italy.
With a population of only 47 million to China’s 1.4 billion, Spain’s tally of infections reached 85,195 yesterday, a rise of 8% from the previous day.
Spain also reported 812 new deaths in the last day, raising its overall fatalities from the virus to 7,300.
There has been severe pressure on the health systems in Italy and Spain as they try to cope with the weight of caring for so many desperately ill patients at once.
The two European nations have more than half the world’s 34,000 deaths from the virus.
At least six of Spain’s 17 regions were at their limit of ICU beds and three more were close to it, authorities said yesterday as crews of workers were frantically building more field hospitals.
Despite the declining infection rate, Spanish health official Dr Maria Jose Sierra said there was no end to the stayat-home restrictions yet in sight.
“Reducing the pressure on the ICUS will be important for considering de-escalation measures,” said Dr Sierra, who took over yesterday as the health emergency centre’s spokesperson after its director tested positive for Covid-19.
Nearly 15% of all those infected in Spain, almost 13,000 people, are healthcare workers.
In hard-hit Madrid, flags were hoisted at half mast for an official mourning period.
During a minute of silence for the dead, Madrid’s Puerta del Sol central square was empty as bells tolled.
In Italy, another 812 people died in the last day, bringing the country’s toll to 11,591 and maintaining its position as the country with the most dead.
Overall, Italy added 4,050 new infections yesterday, bringing its official total to 101,739 and keeping its place as the European epicentre of the pandemic and second only to the US.
Epidemiologists say the real number of Italy’s caseload, however, is as much as five to 10 times more than the official number.
Of those infected, 14,620 have been declared cured, including a record 1,590 in the past day.
Experts say the critical situations in hospitals in Italy and Spain will be soon heading toward the United States.
“Reducing the pressure on the ICUS will be important for considering de-escalation measures.
DR MARIA JOSE SIERRA
Cases across Africa rose closer to 5,000 in 46 countries and Zimbabwe began a three-week lockdown yesterday.
China’s National Health Commission yesterday reported 31 new Covid-19 cases, with just one domestic infection.
At the peak of China’s restrictions, some 700 million people were in areas ordered to stay home, but those rules are easing.
New York state remained the epicentre of the US outbreak, with the vast majority of the deaths in New York City. Only two states – Hawaii and Wyoming – have no cities linked to Covid-19.
In another development yesterday, organisers said the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics will take place on July 23 2021.
Last week, the IOC and Japanese organisers postponed the Games until next year because of the pandemic.
But the near exact one-year delay will see the rescheduled closing ceremony take place on August 8.
Tokyo organising committee president Yoshiro Mori said a spring Olympics was considered but holding the games later gives more space to complete the many qualifying events that have been postponed due to the virus outbreak.