Coronavirus updates: outbreaks hit Catalonia’s second largest city

Infections in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat triple within a week, as Lleida region puts residential homes on lockdown

Medical staff prepare to carry out PCR tests in a residential home in Aitona, Lleida (by Laurar Cortés)
Medical staff prepare to carry out PCR tests in a residential home in Aitona, Lleida (by Laurar Cortés) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

July 11, 2020 01:31 PM

Catalonia’s second-largest city, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, located in the Barcelona metropolitan area, has recorded a string of coronavirus outbreaks that have caused the number of daily recorded infections to triple within a week.

With 30 new cases reported only a week ago, the number of fresh cases now stands at 107. 

The mayor of L’Hospitalet, the Socialist Núria Marín, has called for "extreme precautions" and to comply with the safety measures to prevent the spread of the virus. 

With a population of 264.923, second only to Barcelona, the rise in coronavirus cases in L’Hospitalet has been greater in the neighborhoods of Torrassa, Collblanc, and Florida.

On Saturday, the Catalan government suspended all visits and admissions to residential homes in the region of Lleida to avoid infections "among the most vulnerable" people.

The county of Segrià, in the Lleida region, has been under lockdown for a week and continues to record spikes in Covid-19 infections.