Spain's COVID rate jumps, vaccine deliveries speed up

MADRID - Spain's rising coronavirus infection rate is accelerating, official data showed on Monday, as authorities took delivery of the largest batch of vaccines to date.

The infection rate as measured over the past 14 days rose to 163.4 cases per 100,000 people from 151.8 cases on Saturday as a gradual uptick in contagion from mid-March lows continued to gather pace. Health emergency chief Fernando Simon confirmed infections were on the rise across the country and that pressure on the health system was beginning to build.