Spain adds 27,856 COVID-19 cases over weekend as six regions near ‘red zone’ incidence rate – but hospital pressure has not increased

SPAIN has added 27,856 coronavirus cases to its running total over the weekend.

The figure represents a 16% increase compared to the same period last week.

The climb caused the incidence rate of the virus to increase by five points to 263 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

But unlike in September, Madrid is not to blame, after clocking 5,134 cases over the weekend, its lowest figure since August.

It means the central region now has an incidence rate of 501 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, almost taking it below the threshold for lockdown-style measures announced by the central government.

Other regions are beginning to see their incidence rates climb, with Navarra now registering 746 cases per 100,000.

Melilla has now exceeded 500, recording a rate of 505 cases per 100,000.

Five other regions also passed 300 cases per 100,000 over the weekend, bringing them close to the so-called ‘red zone’, they are; Aragon (404), Castilla y Leon (402), La Rioja (359), Castilla La-Mancha (326) and Murcia (316).

But while caseloads and incidence rates are increasing, the pressure on the healthcare system is remaining stable.

The number of beds occupied by coronavirus patients on a national level is now 8.27%, the lowest figure so far this month.

Meanwhile in ICUs the number is at 18.19%, where it has been for the past few days.

It suggests that an increase in testing and the inclusion of rapid tests in the statistics is driving up the incidence rates and caseloads.

In terms of deaths, 195 people lost their lives to the virus over the weekend, bringing the total death toll so far to 33,124.

The figure is likely much higher as it does not include deaths in nursing homes or those who died with symptoms of the disease but were not tested for it.