Spain: Confirmed COVID-19 cases top 85,000 as of March 30, overtaking China /update 10

Event

The number of confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases recorded in Spain reached 85,195 as of Monday, March 30, overtaking China to claim the spot as the country with the third-highest number of confirmed COVID-19 infections (following the US and Italy). Over 7300 associated deaths have been recorded in Spain. Despite the rising number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and associated deaths, Spanish health officials have claimed that the rate of COVID-19-infection increase has dropped to 12 percent per day since the introduction of lockdown measures in recent days, compared to a daily rate of increase for COVID-19 infections of around 20 percent before the lockdown measures were implemented.

Spain's Congress approved extending a related state of emergency to Sunday, April 12, during an early morning (local time) vote on Thursday, March 26. Under the state of emergency, the government is granted exceptional powers to limit the free movement of people and vehicles, and ration goods and services, among other powers. Residents are to restrict all movement except for going to essential work, hospitals or health centers, and financial institutions, and shopping for groceries, pharmaceuticals, and other necessities. Nonessential workers have been instructed to stay home until at least Thursday, April 9. Schools, bars, restaurants, and most shops are closed. All social gatherings are banned, and police officers have been deployed to enforce the orders.

Further international spread of the virus is to be expected over the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and labored breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the general risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.