The Delta variant of Covid-19 and a surge in infections among younger, unvaccinated people have catapulted Spain’s coronavirus rate to the highest in mainland Europe, according to Financial Times research.
Infection rates in the country have rocketed over the past week, surpassing both Portugal and Russia, with the seven-day rate almost tripling from 58 cases per 100,000 on June 29 to 156 on Tuesday. Spain still slightly lags behind Portugal on the 14-day rate more widely used in the EU.
In response to the rise, the Catalonia region — the worst affected in the country — said on Tuesday it was reintroducing restrictions on nightlife, while Castile-León called for a return to a curfew system.