ARCHIVED - Covid incidence rate in Valencia region jumps 100 cases in five days

14-day cumulative incident rate in the region's three provinces, including Alicante, now stands at 357 per 100,000 inhabitants.

The cumulative incident rate in the Valencia region is now the seventh highest in Spain, and classed as 'extreme risk' rising to 357.42 cases per 100,000 inhabitants  - up from 262.98 on Thursday.

Although this figure is below the national average of 368 cases, the continued rise in infections has seen the region jump from having the lowest incident rate less than two months ago (26 cases) to having one of the country's highest.

There are now 372 Covid patients hospitalised across the region, representing 3.53 per cent of all occupied hospital beds, with 53 critical patients in ICU.

In the last 24 hours alone, 60 people have been admitted to critical units in the region, while 23 have been discharged, and the positivity rate has risen to 13.45 per cent, up significantly on Thursday's 10.92 per cent and above the national average of 13.24.

In terms of age groups, the biggest increase has been amongst those aged 20 to 29, which has risen by 269 since Thursday to 1,120 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by the 12 to 19 age group, with 835 cases, up from 632.

The rate amongst 30 to 39-year-olds stands at 432; between 40 and 49-year-olds (262);  under 11's (203); 50 and 59 (170); 60 and 69 (131); over 80's (84); and 70 to 79 (66 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

In an attempt to tackle the "exponential growth in infections" and "increase in hospitalisations", night time curfews and limitations on social and family gatherings have been enforced in 32 municipalities, after the measures were authorised by the Valencian Supreme Court.

And with cases soaring predominantly amongst younger people, the authorities are clamping down on botellon street drinking sessions, with offenders facing fines of up to €30,000.

IMAGE: Archive