The coronavirus death toll rose to 1,002 in Spain today after 235 people died in 24 hours. The health ministry said the number of Covid-19 cases has approached 20,000.
The spiralling number of infections has propelled Spain into the top four worst-hit countries in the world, with the figures growing as the country steps up its capacity for testing.
Over the past seven days, the number of deaths has risen ten-fold, the figures show. Since the last update around midday yesterday, another 2,833 infections have been confirmed, taking the overall number of cases to 19,980, the ministry's emergencies coordinator Fernando Simon said.