Spain has overtaken Italy for the first time for the number of confirmed coronavirus cases

Spain has overtaken Italy for the first time for the number of confirmed coronavirus cases, but the overnight death toll fell from the previous day, and health officlas remain hopeful.

With 117,710 confirmed cases, Spain is now second in the number of infections only to the United States, which has a population some seven times larger.

The death toll stands at 10,935, second only to Italy, with 13,915 fatalities.

On a positive note, yesterday marked the first time in more than a week that the number of deaths fell from the previous day, to 932 fatalities from 950.

Maria Jose Rallo, the deputy head of health emergency said the increase in the number of cases at 7%, confirms the downward trend from a 20% increase one week ago.

With the initial 15-day lockdown period now extended till April 12. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is now considering a second extension until at least April 26.

Mortuaries have been overwhelmed, prompting regional authorities to set up a third improvised facility at another ice rink this time at Majadahonda near Madrid.

Soldiers and firefighters have set up an emergency hospital in a sports centre in the Catalan town of Sabadell.

Catalan regional government chief Quim Torra said the region, the second worst-hit after Madrid is at the limits of it’s capability in handling the coronavirus crisis.

Residencial care homes continue to be hit hard, Madrid regional premier Isabel Díaz Ayuso said that around 3,000 elder residents in Madrid died in March.

This figure is three times higher than reported just a week ago by the regional government.
But the lack of testing means it is impossible to know how many of those fatalities were caused by the coronavirus.

Banks are being overwhelmed with requests from customers for mortgage payment holidays to help mitigate the impact of the epidemic.