Spain's number of coronavirus cases totals over 85,000

Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-30 21:18:45|Editor: huaxia

Beds are seen in one of the seven new Intensive Care Units (ICU) in Vall d'Hebron Hospital, in Barcelona, Spain, March 26, 2020. (Vall d'Hebron Hospital via Xinhua)

The number of new cases of coronavirus infection is considerably lower than the 8,189 new cases registered on Saturday and the 7,871 on Friday.

Fernando Simon, Spain's health emergency chief, has tested positive for the coronavirus.

MADRID, March 30 (Xinhua) -- With 6,549 new cases of coronavirus infection reported in the past 24 hours in Spain, the country's total number of COVID-19 cases has climbed to 85,195, according to the daily figures published by the Spanish Ministry of Health, Consumer Affairs and Social Services on Monday.

However, the ministry said the number of new cases is considerably lower than the 8,189 new cases registered on Saturday and the 7,871 on Friday.

Meanwhile, the ministry reported that 812 people died during the period, fewer than the 838 deaths on Sunday and the 832 deaths on Saturday, although the total death toll of COVID-19 in Spain has now risen to 7,340.

The number of patients who have recovered from the coronavirus increased by 2,071 from Sunday's total of 14,709 to 16,780, although the recovery rate continues to be considerably below the rate of infection.

Madrid and the Catalan Region continue to be the two worst affected parts of Spain, with Madrid registering 24,070 cases and 3,392 deaths, while there are 16,157 cases and 1,410 deaths in the Catalan Region of north-eastern Spain.

Engineers set up a locker room and ten showers attached to the field hospital set up at the IFEMA Exhibition center in Madrid, Spain, March 22, 2020. SPAIN OUT. LATIN AMERICA OUT. (EFE/Handout via Xinhua)

Monday is the first day since the government's approval of a decree late on Sunday night to close all but "essential" economic activity until April 9.

The decree, which does not affect people working from home, closes nearly every activity except those related to food, health, security forces, public transport, telecommunications and essential information services. The government has allowed some workers in other sectors a moratorium until Tuesday in order to complete vital tasks they had been unable to complete before the law was passed.

Medics work at a hospital in Barcelona, Spain, March 20, 2020.(Photo by Francisco Avia/Xinhua)

The government spokesperson, Maria Jesus Montero explained the measure is aimed at further reducing the movement of citizens and the possibility of contagion from COVID-19 and hopefully to lift some pressure of Spain's Intensive Care units, which have so far attended 5,321 patients.

Spain's Health Ministry also confirmed on Monday that Fernando Simon, the Director of the Health Ministry's Center for Health Emergencies (CCAES), has tested positive for the coronavirus after showing symptoms on Sunday evening and is now self-isolated at home.

According to the ministry, Simon, 57 years old, developed symptoms late on Sunday night and he was self-isolating at home.

Maria Jose Sierra from the CCAES on Monday replaced Simon in the daily press conference.

"He's tested positive. He showed a few degrees of fever, He's OK, but he's been isolated at home," said Sierra.

Simon's infection came after Laurentino Cena, the Operations Director of Spain's Civil Guard was confirmed to be infected last week.

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