Spain: Highest spike in new COVID-19 cases since April

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Spain registered the highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases in four months on Tuesday, with the Health Ministry reporting 5,760 new cases.

Over the last week, 18,191 new cases have been detected -- more than double the weekly total of two weeks ago and ten times what it was just a month ago.

Within the last week, the total number of hospitalizations has also increased by 921 to a total of 127,507.

With the surge of new cases, deaths are also beginning to creep up to levels not seen since before the lockdown was lifted in late June. Another 26 deaths were registered on Tuesday, bringing the total to 28,498.

While the number of new cases are reaching levels not seen since spring when the country was devastated by the virus, health officials highlight the fact that most cases detected now are asymptomatic, as testing capacity has improved substantially.

Still, the latest data suggests that 5% of all diagnostic COVID-19 tests are turning up positive, up significantly from around 2% in mid-July.

On Tuesday, Aragon, considered the worst-hit area in the second wave, moved to shut down all of its night clubs, limit gatherings to 10 people and close bars and restaurants at 1 a.m. local time (2400GMT).

The Catalan government also suspended the activity of an agricultural company in Lleida, when health officials discovered the business was making workers who tested positive for the disease continue to harvest fruit.