MADRID (AFP) - Once again, Spain hit a new record with 849 people dying of Covid-19 in 24 hours, hiking the overall death toll to 8,189, the government said on Tuesday (March 31).

The increase came after a day in which the number of deaths had fallen slightly, raising hopes that the epidemic could be reaching a peak in Spain, which has logged the world's second-highest number of deaths from the virus, after Italy.

Another 9,222 people tested positive for the virus over the past 24 hours, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 94,417.