Spain’s coronavirus death toll overtakes China

Thursday, 26 March 2020 01:37 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Global death toll tops 19,500

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain’s coronavirus death toll jumped by 738 overnight to exceed that of China, where the disease originated, as the country struggled to cope with an accelerating health crisis.

With 3,434 fatalities, Spain now has the second highest number of deaths globally after Italy’s 6,820. Nursing homes across the country have been overwhelmed by cases and a skating rink in Madrid has been turned into a makeshift morgue.

Spain is on Day 11 of a 15-day nationwide lockdown which is likely to be extended to 30 days. Schools, bars, restaurants and most shops are shuttered. Social gatherings are banned. People are confined to their homes.

Nearly 435,400 people have been infected across the world and more than 19,500 have died, according to a Reuters tally.