Alex Trelinski
WEEKEND COVID-19 infection rates almost doubled in the Valencian Community according to the latest health ministry figures, with hospital ITUs the busiest since the start of the pandemic.
The Monday evening(October 26) report declared 356 new positives across the Community compared to 286 seven days earlier.
The cumulative weekend figure taking in the Saturday update means that 2,039 cases were detected compared to 1,124 over the previous Saturday to Monday.
Over a fortnight ago, the figure stood at just 593.
197 of the new cases in the Monday update were in Alicante Province, with 157 in Valencia Province and just two in Castellon Province.
Hospital admissions in Alicante Province have climbed by 117 over seven days to 339, with 63 people in ITUs. which is the highest figure since the pandemic began.
11 more deaths have been reported and there are 47 new outbreaks in the Valencian Community.
The region still has the lowest coronavirus infection rate on mainland Spain, with the Canary and Balearic Islands leading the way.
The Community infection rate stands at 171 cases per 100,000 people which is half the Spanish average figure, compared to 40 cases earlier in the month.
One of the reasons for imposing a night-time curfew is to reduce new infections caused by social gatherings and 75 per cent of the latest outbreaks were caused by socialising.
The most serious area is Valencia City with eight outbreaks amongst 37 cases all from social situations.
In Alicante Province, fresh outbreaks were reported in Orihuela, San Fulgencio, Almoradi, Elche, Callosa de Segura, and Crevillente.
