In Spain, a fourth wave of COVID-19 is taking hold

Infection rates are rising across the country as the race to roll out vaccines is challenged by delays and fears of rare side effects.

A fourth wave of coronavirus infections appears to be emerging in Spain, where case numbers have risen to their highest levels since late February. Spain’s Health Ministry reported 10,474 new infections on Wednesday, bringing the overall tally to 3.39 million in one of Europe’s hardest-hit countries. “We have been seeing a rising trend, a slow but continuous rate of growth,” Spanish newspaper El Pais quoted Health Minister Carolina Darias as saying on Wednesday.