The number of deaths from coronavirus in Spain has jumped to 1,326 on Saturday, up from 1,002 in the country’s biggest one-day rise so far.
According to data from the Health Ministry, the number of registered cases in the country also rose to 24,926, from 19,980 announced on Friday.
Spain is the second hardest-hit country in Europe by the coronavirus pandemic, after Italy, which has reported over 47,000 confirmed cases and 4,032 deaths.
It overtook Iran as the world’s third worst coronavirus-stricken country on Friday, after China and Italy. Almost 9,000 cases and 628 deaths are located in the capital, Madrid.
The new figures come after Spanish authorities said they would turn a conference centre in Madrid into a giant military hospital for coronavirus patients on Friday.
Over 1,600 patients are in intensive care units that authorities admit are at their limits.
According to Reuters, around 5,500 hospital beds will be set up inside the IFEMA conference centre located on the oustkirts of the city to help cope with the surge in cases expected.
Health emergencies chief Fernando Simon told a news conference: “The most difficult days are coming now.”
Residents in Spain have been under tight restrictions on free movement and the closure of most shops for almost a week now.
