Huge spike in cases in Marina Alta with over 700 new positives

Xàbia records 146 new infections as data suggests a third wave is already crashing into our region.

Tuesday 12th January 2021 | MIKE SMITH

This is the latest information on the status of the health situation in Xàbia, the Marina Alta, the Comunidad Valenciana and across Spain.

For more information, please refer to the links given at the bottom of the page as our report is based on the official figures given in these sources.

Xàbia

Xàbia has seen 146 new positive cases reported since the last update, a huge increase on the previous update. In addition, the number of positive PCR tests in the past 14 days risen sharply to 222 with 92 new positives since the last update. The IA rate has risen above 800 for the first time since the pandemic began.

NOTE: This could be a result of data adjustment after the holiday period since the last update was relatively low. We shall see how the data looks at the next update on Friday.

Latest Data (10/01/2021)
14-Day Cumulative Rate (IA): 804.23 
Positive PCR Tests in the past 14 days: 222 
Total Positive Cases: 730 (+146)
Total Deaths: 4 (+1)

Marina Alta

The Dénia Health Authority, which covers the Marina Alta region, has recorded 701 new infections since the last update, bringing the total to 4,696 positive cases since the crisis began.

There has been 15 new deaths since the last update, bringing the total to 71 since the crisis began.

Latest Data (10/01/2021)
14-Day Cumulative Rate (IA): 793.05 
Positive PCR Tests in the past 14 days: 1,362 
Total Positive Cases: 4,696 (+701)
Total Deaths: 71 (+15)

The 701 new infections have been recorded in the following municipalities:

  • Dénia – 238 / 2 deaths
  • Xàbia – 146 / 1 death
  • Pego – 51
  • Calp – 44 / 3 deaths
  • Ondara – 38 / 1 death
  • Benissa – 37 / 1 death
  • Orba – 37 / 1 death
  • Teulada – 30 / 1 death
  • El Vergel – 21
  • Pedreguer – 21
  • Gata de Gorgos – 19
  • La Vall de Laguar – 4
  • Els Poblets – 3
  • Alcalalí – 2
  • Benidoleig – 2
  • Parcent – 2
  • Beniarbeig – 1
  • Castell de Castells – 1
  • El Rafòl d’Almúnia – 1
  • Llíber – 1
  • Sanet y Negrals – 1
  • Xaló – 1

Vall de Gallinera is the only municipality in the Marina Alta not to have recorded a single positive case.

News

The Denia Health Authority has implemented a series of new measures to deal with the significant rise in COVID-19 infections in the Marina Alta region. The ICU ward has expanded from 14 to 34 beds whilst general ward capacity has increased from 188 to 236 beds. Non-urgent surgery has been suspended as well as face-to-face consultations at the hospital and the health centres; patients should not go to their scheduled appointment unless they receive a call or text message indicating otherwise. Patients cannot be accompanied to consultations, tests and hospitalization, except in the case of childbirth, minors or dependent persons.

Comunidad Valenciana

The 14-day IA rate for the Comunidad Valenciana is 516.87 whilst the positivity rate2 for the Comunidad Valenciana is 28.54%.

The pressure on the health service in the region continues with 3,200 people currently hospitalized by the virus; 430 are in ICU wards. Over 40% of ICU beds are currently treating COVID-19 patients.

Latest Data (11/01/2021)
(increase or decrease values since 28/12/2020)
Total Positive Cases: 174,172 (+34,512)
Positive Cases in 14 days: 25,863 (+9,663)
Total Hospitalizations: 17,680 (+2,093)
Current Hospitalizations: 3,200 (+1,320)
Current Beds Occupied (Ward): 27.48% (+8.11)
Current Beds Occupied (ICU): 40.04% (+12.55)

Vaccination Data (11/01/2021)
Doses Available: 61,225 (Pfizer/BioNtech)
Doses Administered: 45,674 (74.06%)

Latest IA Rate by Health Authority (10/01/2021)
 up on 14 days ago
 down on 14 days ago
1,484.12 – Alcoi 
1,183.47 – Xàtiva-Ontinyent 
982.73 – Requena 
793.05 – Dénia 
790.77 – La Ribera 
775.84 – Elda 
671.69 – Vinaros 
559.34 – Valencia Clinic La Malva Rosa 
529.42 – Sagunt 
524.39 – Valencia Dr.Peset 
485.66 – La Marina Baixa 
481.75 – Valencia La Fe 
450.80 – Valencia Hospital General 
418.14 – La Plana 
404.21 – Castelló 
373.48 – Sant Joan de l’Alacant 
364.93 – Valencia Arnau de Vilanova-Llíria 
344.09 – Manises 
339.61 – Elx 
334.17 – Gandía 
302.77 – Alacant Hospital General 
223.02 – Orihuela 
166.13 – Elx-Crevillent 
41.93 – Torrevieja 

News

As the virus continues to spread at a significant pace in the region, the Generalitat Valenciana has ruled out the possibility of another full lockdown … for the moment, although it would be a State decision to do so. But Health Minister Ana Barceló called on citizens to “stay at home” as much as possible, despite Podemos calling on a total home confinement of the whole Comunidad Valenciana.

With pressure on the regional health service increasing, the Ministry of Health has enabled field hospitals across the region to treat “non-serious” COVID-19 patients to free up beds in general hospitals. The provinces of Alicante and Castellón have 80 beds each in field hospitals whilst Valencia can count on 145. All infrastructure can be expanded if and when necessary.

The FFCV have suspended all competitive football at regional level until at least January 31st, stating that the organisation wants to show solidarity with the current situation in the Comunidad Valenciana. The association is also making all its resources (facilities and personnel) available to the Generalitat Valenciana to assist with the management of the virus.

Spain

The national 14-day IA rate is 435.62, the highest it has been since October 29th. It has increased by more than 75% in 14 days.

Latest Data (11/01/2021)
(increase or decrease values since 28/12/2020)
Total Positive Cases: 2,111,782 (+232,369)
Total Deaths: 52,275 (+2,153)
Current Hospitalizations: 16,792 (+4,620)
Current % of Hospital Beds occupied by COVID patients: 13.77%
Current % of ICU Beds occupied by COVID patients: 26.13%

Vaccination Data (11/01/2021)
Doses Available: 743,925 (Pfizer/BioNtech)
Doses Administered: 406,091 (54.60%)

Latest IA Rate by Autonomous Region (11/01/2021)
 up on 14 days ago
 down on 14 days ago
1,021.53 – Extremadura 
598.19 – Baleares 
595.61 – Madrid 
557.77 – La Rioja 
556.21 – Castilla-La Mancha 
524.00 – Cataluña 
516.87 – Comunidad Valenciana 
443.13 – Castilla y León 
402.37 – Melilla 
401.66 – Aragón 
337.36 – Ceuta 
299.69 – Murcía 
297.57 – Galicia 
294.74 – Andalucia 
290.42 – Navarra 
279.48 – Cantabria 
257.32 – País Vasco 
185.28– Asturias 
151.11 – Canarias 

News

A third wave of infections is gaining speed in Spain as the country recorded 61,422 new cases over the weekend, the largest increase reported on a Monday since the health crisis began. Fernando Simón, director of the Health Ministry’s Coordination Centre for Health Alerts (CCAES), admitted that further increases are expected in the coming days as the country starts to count the cost of the festive period: “We have perhaps had a better time than we could or should have done and now we have to cope with what is coming”.

But he dismissed suggestions that a new lockdown was imminent. “It was not necessary to control the second wave … if we behave with solidarity, if we administer the measures in an appropriate way, we will manage to control it“, highlighting the damage that a lockdown can have on the economy and on society in general.

However, Simón added that the effect of the restrictions imposed after the Three Kings should start to be seen next week and it is hoped that hospitals and particularly ICU wards will not become overwhelmed in the meantime. He predicted that a slowdown in the growth of new infections might be expected next week.

With regards to the UK variant of COVID-19, Simón reiterated that this new strain is not causing the significant increases in new infection but rather the behaviour of citizens, adding that “if we apply [the preventative measures] well, we will be able to control [the curve]”. At the moment, there are 70 confirmed cases of the new variant in Spain, with a further 72 people under investigation.

Data Explanation

1 The IA rate is the number of new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 inhabitants over the past 14 days. It is considered the most accurate measure of the spread of the virus. A rate above 250 indicates an ‘Extreme Risk’ that the infection is spreading. The aim of the Spanish government is to lower this rate to 25.

2 The positivity rate refers to the percentage of all COVID-19 tests carried out which have come back positive. A high figure means that it doesn’t take many tests to come across a positive result.

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