Spain's COVID-19 Resurgence Speed 10 Times Faster Than Germany... Over 50,000 Infections in One Week

France's Resurgence Rate Twice, UK's Eight Times, Germany's Ten Times Faster
Criticism That Lockdown Easing Was Too Rapid

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As signs of a resurgence of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) deepen in Europe, it has been reported that Spain recorded about 53,000 new COVID-19 cases in the past week. The spread is more than 10 times that of Germany, raising concerns that Spain could become the epicenter of the resurgence in Europe.

According to foreign media including The New York Times (NYT) on the 31st (local time), the number of new confirmed cases in Spain over the past week exceeded 53,000. Spanish health authorities reported that there were 114 confirmed cases per 100,000 people, with the rate of spread about twice that of France, eight times that of Italy or the United Kingdom, and ten times that of Germany. Spain's cumulative confirmed cases are estimated at 440,000, with deaths exceeding 29,000.

In Europe, while Italy was the epicenter during the first wave, concerns are emerging that Spain might become the epicenter during the resurgence. Although there is no exact answer as to why the resurgence is so pronounced in Spain, there are criticisms that the lifting of lockdown measures is proceeding too quickly. Previously, Spain lifted lockdown measures such as nighttime movement restrictions and bans on group activities earlier than other countries. Large family gatherings, the resumption of tourism, and shifting the responsibility for quarantine measures to local authorities along with the lifting of lockdowns are also pointed out as causes.

Experts in Spain are warning that several European countries should be cautious about lifting lockdown measures after observing Spain's case of spread. Antoni Trilla, an epidemiologist at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, said, "Spain might serve as a warning indicator like the canary in the coal mine," adding, "Many countries will follow our lifting of quarantine measures, and I hope they do not face such numbers or rates of spread."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.