Ten new coronavirus cases in Catalonia raise figure to 28

Authorities have traced source of contagion in each new case, half of them had visited Milan

The Catalan health minister, Alba Vergés, visiting the emergency services HQ, in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, on February 29, 2020 (by Pere Francesch)
The Catalan health minister, Alba Vergés, visiting the emergency services HQ, in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, on February 29, 2020 (by Pere Francesch) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

March 4, 2020 07:04 PM

Ten new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Catalonia on Wednesday, raising the total figure to 28. All the new cases are in mild condition. 

Of the new cases confirmed on Wednesday, four had been in northern Italy, including a 30-year-old man from Barcelona, a 23-year-old woman from Barcelona who went on vacation to Milan, a 39-year-old man who lives in Barcelona and had been in Bergamo and Milan, and a 40-year-old man from Barcelona who had visited Milan. 

In addition, a 47-year-old man was infected through contact with a known case in Valencia, south of Catalonia.

The final five cases were infected through contact with people that had already had tested positive for Covid-19 in Catalonia. This includes a 53-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man, both from Girona in the north of Catalonia, a 61-year-old woman from Barcelona, a 51-year-old woman also from the Catalan capital, and an 86-year-old woman from Barcelona

Six of the cases were reported in the early afternoon, with the remaining four being announced at 7pm. 

The Catalan health department announced on Tuesday afternoon that some patients are being treated at home rather than in hospital.

The first fatality in Spain was declared in Valencia on Tuesday, following a retrospective investigation into the death of a man on February 13.

In Girona, a lioness statue that visitors to the city traditionally kiss has been closed off to prevent the spread of the virus. 

Health authorities are advising people to wash hands with soap and water, avoid close contact with people who show signs of respiratory distress, keep two meters away from people with symptoms of acute respiratory infections, cover their mouth and nose with handkerchiefs or with the inside of their elbow when coughing or sneezing, and avoid sharing food and utensils.