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ARCHIVED - Covid incidence rate in Benidorm three times higher than national average
The hugely popular holiday resort in the Marina Baixa, Alicante province, currently has a rate of 156 cases per 100,000 inhabitants
Benidorm is one of the few municipalities in the Valencia region with a 14-day cumulative incidence rate well above the national average – three times higher, in fact – as the resort welcomes its first major wave of British holidaymakers.
According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health, Costa Blanca's tourist capital, which has a population of around 67,600, has an incidence rate of 156 cases per 100,000 people, compared to 46 nationally, and well above the likes of Elche, which has a population of around 230,600 people and an incidence rate of just 28.
Whilst the health data for Valencia region as a whole has continued to improve over recent weeks, falling to 34.78 cases following the first weekend of 'new normal', Benidorm appears to be bucking the positive trend, experiencing a rebound in cases just as international tourism is recovering.
In fact, last weekend, the resort recorded 84% hotel occupancy, compared to 70% in Valencia province, 64% in Castellon, and 72% across the Costa Blanca, according to the Hosbec hoteliers' association.
"These figures are encouraging, although they are far from what would be normal for this period when many establishments would be sold out," explained Hosbec, adding that the majority of visitors were Spanish.
"However, the upward trend is general, and there is already a notable rise in the number of international tourists, up 30% in Benidorm, 35% across the Costa Blanca as a whole, and 40% in Valencia."
There has been no official comment from Benidorm Council regarding the municiplaity's high incidence rate, but the region's Minister of Health, Ana Barceló, confirmed this week third booster jabs are likely to be administered to the elderly, together with the flu jab, from October 25, and urged younger people who have not yet been immunised to do so.
Image: Ayuntamiento de Benidorm
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