By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Spain’s Ministry of Health reported an additional 4499 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the country total to 191,726.

In addition, the death toll has risen to 20,043 as of Friday.

The Madrid Autonomous Community has reported 52,946 cases, followed by Catalonia with 39,943 and Castilla la Mancha with 16,349.

On Thursday, the Minister of Health, Salvador Illa, announced an increase in the capacity to carry out PCR in Spain: “In the last three weeks, we have managed to go from the 20,000 daily PCR to between 40,000 and 47,000, according to the estimated consumption provided by the autonomous communities”.

From the beginning of the crisis and until April 13, the total number of PCR carried out in Spain is 930,230.

“This increase in capacity has been possible thanks to the work carried out by the Carlos III Health Institute, which has validated 8 new research centers and universities, and there are already 13 centers validated to carry out PCR, as well as the efforts of the Autonomous Communities”, Illa has stressed.

The Minister of Health has emphasized that “PCR tests are the cornerstone of the diagnostic strategy, here and in other countries” but he clarified that “in a complementary way, we are using rapid diagnostic tests for the detection of antibodies because with their use we are able to expand the diagnostic capacity”.

These rapid tests allow the positive cases to be screened in high-prevalence groups in a fast and safe way and, globally, it is possible to increase the ability to diagnose citizens by means of PCR.

Salvador Illa highlighted in Congress the work carried out by Primary Care professionals during the pandemic: “They have reorganized to attend to mild cases at home and actively follow the most vulnerable people by phone, taking care of their health and avoiding complications requiring income. ”

“Through his work,” he added, “in addition to treating mild cases, it has prevented the worsening of COVID-19 and other pathologies, which has protected people’s health and prevented many hospital admissions.” And, he insisted: “It is the best level capable of reaching the entire population in an equitable and preventive way and ordering coordination within the Public Health more efficiently.” Therefore, their work to emerge from the pandemic will also be important.