Covid-19 cases in Catalonia up by more than 1,000 in 24 hours

The number of Covid-19 cases in Catalonia has risen by 1,293 in 24 hours to a total of 79,595.

This marks, for the fourth time in the last week, the biggest daily increase in almost two months, since May 19.

Excluding serological tests, 762 additional cases have been recorded, of which 197 are in the southern metropolitan region (123 of those in Hospitalet), 192 in the Lleida health region in western Catalonia (178 of those in Segrià), and 178 in Barcelona city.

Funeral home services have reported four coronavirus deaths, bringing the total number to 12,631.

500 new contact tracers

In an attempt to rein in these rising Covid-19 figures, Catalan health minister Alba Vergés announced that at least another 500 contact tracers will be hired.

These so-called "Covid managers" will work at primary care centers and speak to patients that could have possibly contracted the virus, before they receive their test results, to come up with a list of people that have been in close contact with them. 

Spanish figures

Spain's health ministry figures on Thursday show an additional 1,361 positive Covid-19 diagnoses compared to its report the previous day.

The two areas with the highest number of new cases in the last 24 hours are Aragon, which borders Catalonia to the west, and Catalonia itself.

Nine confirmed Covid-19 fatalities have been recorded across Spain in the last seven days, two in Catalonia.