An 80-year old Lanzarote woman became the third coronavirus fatality on the island yesterday. She was also the first victim not to have any pre-existing health issues, although her age would have placed her in a vulnerable group.
Both Spain and the Canaries saw the sharpest rise in new cases yet yesterday, disappointing officials who had hoped that the quarantine measures would start to show a decrease in new cases by now.
As a result, Spain’s government is reported to be considering even more restrictive quarantine measures, following figures that seem to indicate that those who continue going to work are the main propagators of the virus. These “intra-professional and intra-family” infections are passed on between work colleagues or to family members when workers return home. The complete closure of industry is one option that is said to be under consideration.
On Lanzarote, the Cabildo has arranged accommodation for members of the security forces and firefighters in a number of hotels whose owners have donated their use. This will allow front-line workers to go home without fear of infecting family members. Positive cases announced yesterday included a Guardia Civil officer who was based at the airport and an Arrecife local policeman.
A similar alternative accommodation scheme is already in operation for healthcare professionals.
Latest statistics: 27th March, 20:00
Increase on previous figures in brackets.
Total Canarian Cases: 1025 (+147)
Cases on Lanzarote: 35 (+12)
Deaths (Canaries): 36 (+9)
