Catalonia sees highest new cases and deaths figures in three weeks

Wednesday, July 1 saw 223 newly confirmed Covid-19 cases and a further 20 deaths related to the virus reported by funeral homes in Catalonia - the highest of each figure seen in the last three weeks. 

The latest reported cases mean the total number of Covid-19 deaths seen in Catalonia is now 12,576, while a total of 71,799 positive cases have been confirmed. 

Catalonia officially came out of lockdown and into the ‘new normality’ when the Catalan government regained full control of all Catalan territories, after Barcelona and Lleida were approved to pass to Phase 3 of the de-escalation process on June 18.

In the past couple of weeks, a number of new clusters of the virus have appeared scattered throughout the country. 

Most recently, ten positive cases have been detected in a slaughterhouse in Avinyó, central Catalonia. However, the mayor believes that the company in question took all the necessary precautionary steps, and that the infections occurred at a party in Manresa. 

For their part, the company declined to make a statement, but referred to a statement from the local council and assure they are undertaking "very strict cleaning and protection protocol." 

Some counties of the Aragon region, which neighbours Catalonia to the west, were sent back from Phase 3 to Phase 2 of the lockdown de-escalation process after new cases were discovered there. 

Also in mid-June, some counties in Western Catalonia registered new outbreaks of the coronavirus. Eight people tested positive for Covid-19 who all went to a barbecue together in the Aran Valley area on June 16.

However, all of the people are in quarantine at home with mild symptoms. According to health services, this outbreak is considered controlled, although they are awaiting the results of the latest tests sent. Tests performed on close contacts of those infected have come back negative.

That outbreak is in addition to the one detected by the department of health in the middle of last week at the Castrillón nursing home in Lleida. 

Health officials conducted PCR tests on residents and workers after several people at the center showed symptoms compatible with Covid-19, and 18 positive tests were revealed: 13 residents and 5 members of staff.