Spain records lowest daily coronavirus death toll in 17 days – but it could soon spike again

Madrid authorities say number of deaths in retirement homes alone could be five times higher than official figures. Graham Keeley reports

Mortuary employees transport a coffin of a Covid-19 victim at La Almudena cemetery in Madrid, Spain (Getty)

Spain has recorded its lowest number of daily coronavirus fatalities in 17 days, but there are fears the death toll could soon spike as the “thousands” of people who died outside of hospital are counted.

Grisly pictures of rows of coffins laid out in ice rinks or car parks used as makeshift morgues have been a stark reminder of the tragic cost of the coronavirus in Spain.

As the country has struggled to cope with the level of infections and hospitals became overwhelmed, thousands of people are believed to have died at home or in care centres.