OVIEDO, Spain

The rate of coronavirus infection in Spain shows no sign of slowing down, with the country’s Health Ministry reporting 8,115 new cases on Tuesday.

The number of infections in the last week in Spain is nearly 50,000. That means over the past seven days, more than one out of every 1,000 Spanish residents has tested positive for the virus. In the worst-affected regions of the capital Madrid and La Rioja, it is more than one out of every 500 residents.

The ministry also reported a total of 29,152 COVID-19 deaths – 58 more than on Monday, and nearly 900 more COVID-19 patients being admitted into hospitals.

On Tuesday, authorities announced that the cities of Salamanca and Valladolid will return to stage one. That means gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 10 people and bars and restaurants will only be allowed to serve clients who are seated.

Several smaller towns across mainland Spain now find themselves in situations of either voluntary or mandatory lockdowns.

The situation in Mallorca is also increasingly tense, with one nursing home now reporting at least 77 viral infections and two deaths. Spain’s Balearic Islands have seen the weekly rate of infection more than triple in the last month.

In Andalusia, the suspected COVID-19 death of a hospital caretaker who was discovered lifeless alone in her home is bringing more urgency to the situation.

The southern region is asking doctors to volunteer their time to help with contact tracing.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, leaders provided more practical details about what returning to school could look like for many families.

Treasury Minister Maria Jesus Montero explained that parents whose child has tested positive for a coronavirus infection will qualify for paid leave from work to stay home and isolate.

However, if the child is isolated due to close contact with an infectious person but tests negative, parents will not have the right to take paid leave./aa