Is Spain already experiencing a 'second wave' of coronavirus?
Spanish heath officials suggested on Friday that the recent surge in the number of coronavirus cases could be the start of a much-feared "second wave".
Maria José Sierra, the deputy head of Spain's health emergencies said that while the curve had been flattened "community transmission was being seen in north-eastern areas."
"It could already be a second wave, but that's not the most important thing," Sierra told reporters. "The most important thing is that we keep following what's going on, see what measures are necessary and take them early.
Health ministry data showed 2,615 new cases across Spain on Thursday, compared with a daily average of just 132 in June, Reuters reported.
"Obviously the curve is going up but let's wait and see what kind of situation we're in," she added.
In Catalonia, nearly 8,000 cases were diagnosed in the last 14 days - almost half of the 16,410 detected throughout the country.
Authorities in Catalonia have been forced to introduce new local lockdowns whilst four million residents in Barcelona have been urged to stay home.
Catalonia's public health secretary Josep Maria Argimon described the situation in Barcelona as being at a "critical moment."
Health officials also reported there were 281 active outbreaks across the country. Many have been linked to nightclubs and bars prompting regional authorities to impose new restrictions.
In the town of Totana in Murcia, south eastern Spain, 30,000 people were barred from entering or leaving after 55 cases linked to a bar were detected there.
Authorities in Madrid have urged people to wear a mask even at home when they are with people they don't live with and they have announced plans to restrict nightlife by limiting the number of people allowed in bars.
On Friday the French Prime Minister Jean Castex advised its citizens not to visit Catalonia in order to help contain the spread of the virus.
On Monday Spanish health officials reported that the infection rate had tripled in just over two weeks, from 8,76 per 100,000 inhabitants on July 3rd to 27,39 per 100,000 in recent days.
Spain's Health Ministry reported on Wednesday 288 Covid-19 hospitalisations over the past seven days and 11 Covid-19 patients in the ICU.
Although infections are on the rise in Spain, health officials say the majority are asymptomatic and the death rate remains well below the peak, partly because new cases are more concentrated among younger people.
“The pressure on hospitals remains low,” Spanish deputy health emergency head Maria Sierra said on Monday, with the exception of the city of Lleida in Catalonia where one of the country's main outbreaks is located.
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Maria José Sierra, the deputy head of Spain's health emergencies said that while the curve had been flattened "community transmission was being seen in north-eastern areas."
"It could already be a second wave, but that's not the most important thing," Sierra told reporters. "The most important thing is that we keep following what's going on, see what measures are necessary and take them early.
Health ministry data showed 2,615 new cases across Spain on Thursday, compared with a daily average of just 132 in June, Reuters reported.
"Obviously the curve is going up but let's wait and see what kind of situation we're in," she added.
In Catalonia, nearly 8,000 cases were diagnosed in the last 14 days - almost half of the 16,410 detected throughout the country.
Authorities in Catalonia have been forced to introduce new local lockdowns whilst four million residents in Barcelona have been urged to stay home.
Catalonia's public health secretary Josep Maria Argimon described the situation in Barcelona as being at a "critical moment."
Health officials also reported there were 281 active outbreaks across the country. Many have been linked to nightclubs and bars prompting regional authorities to impose new restrictions.
In the town of Totana in Murcia, south eastern Spain, 30,000 people were barred from entering or leaving after 55 cases linked to a bar were detected there.
Authorities in Madrid have urged people to wear a mask even at home when they are with people they don't live with and they have announced plans to restrict nightlife by limiting the number of people allowed in bars.
On Friday the French Prime Minister Jean Castex advised its citizens not to visit Catalonia in order to help contain the spread of the virus.
On Monday Spanish health officials reported that the infection rate had tripled in just over two weeks, from 8,76 per 100,000 inhabitants on July 3rd to 27,39 per 100,000 in recent days.
Spain's Health Ministry reported on Wednesday 288 Covid-19 hospitalisations over the past seven days and 11 Covid-19 patients in the ICU.
Although infections are on the rise in Spain, health officials say the majority are asymptomatic and the death rate remains well below the peak, partly because new cases are more concentrated among younger people.
“The pressure on hospitals remains low,” Spanish deputy health emergency head Maria Sierra said on Monday, with the exception of the city of Lleida in Catalonia where one of the country's main outbreaks is located.
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