Spain overtakes China virus toll with 3,434 deaths

Spain has reported a record daily increase of 738 deaths, pushing it to 3,434 overall and past China's 3,285, the ministry of health said. The country's infections rose by 20% to 47,610, and more than 5,000 have recovered.

Madrid: Spain's coronavirus death toll overtook that of China on Wednesday, rising to 3,434 after 738 people died over the past 24 hours, the government said.

The spiralling number of deaths came as Spain entered the 11th day of an unprecedented lockdown to try and rein in the COVID-19 epidemic that has now infected 47,610 people, the health ministry said.

The country said that it is buying 432 million euros ($467 million) of medical supplies from China, including 500 million masks, 5.5 million fast test kits and 950 ventilators.

Spanish media reported that 23 residents of a Madrid retirement home died from COVID-19 or symptoms related to the virus. The home's management said that it had been pleading for more staff and supplies, including virus tests after 55 of its workers had been forced to take medical leave.

More than 6,400 of the country’s medical workers have been infected in overburdened hospitals and intensive care units, accounting for roughly 13% of Spain's cases, the Health Ministry said.

PTI