Spain: Madrid sees first day without virus deaths

OVIEDO, Spain

Spain registered 301 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday as the region of Madrid celebrated its first day without any virus-linked deaths in months.

The number of new infections registered broke a five-day streak of increasing cases in the European country. On Saturday, 564 new cases were confirmed.

In total, the Spanish Ministry of Health has confirmed 248,770 infections.

But while new daily cases fell, the weekly number of contagions continues to inch up. That number now stands at 1,915, whereas a week ago it was 1,668.

A further two deaths were also registered, bringing the total number of COVID-19 fatalities to 28,434.

But the region of Madrid, the hardest-hit area in Spain in terms of deaths, celebrated the news that Saturday was its first day without any fatalities since the pandemic began to grip the country in early March.

“Between all of us we can make sure the nightmare doesn’t return,” tweeted Madrid President Isabel Diaz Ayuso.

Over 8,400 people have died in Spain’s capital region, according to the Ministry of Health data.

Meanwhile, around 20 active outbreaks continue across Spain as Sunday concludes the first weekend in which people could travel freely throughout the country.

This is also the first full weekend that visitors from other European Union countries have been allowed to enter the country.