SQUADDIES in Spain tasked with disinfecting OAP care homes as part of the fight against coronavirus are discovering abandoned bodies, it emerged today.

Covid-19 corpses have reportedly been found inside homes alongside living loved ones — as the daily death toll leapt by a record 514 with the total dead standing at 2,696.

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Members of the Spanish Army’s Military Emergency Unit (UME) wearing protective suits stand outside the Palacio de Hielo (Ice Palace) shopping mall where an ice rink was turned into a temporary morgue Credit: AFP or licensors

Private ambulances have been streaming in Credit: Reuters

One of hundreds of coronavirus victims is taken to a crematorium Credit: AP:Associated Press

More than 2,630 people are currently being treated in hospital intensive care units while the overall number of infected is nearly 40,000.

The 25 per cent jump in the death tally will lead to fears Spain could surpass Italy’s record of 793 dead in a day, the highest recorded anywhere in the world so far.

Amid the unfolding tragedy, state prosecutors are investigating a Madrid care home where it emerged 17 people perished.

The discovery of coronavirus victims’ bodies at other homes visited by members of Spain’s military emergency unit (UME) is expected to lead to the launch of more criminal probes.

The army, during some visits, has seen elderly people absolutely abandoned, if not dead in their beds Defence Minister Margarita Robles

The Spanish military were mobilised to focus on elderly care homes after the catastrophic situation became apparent towards the end of last week.

Regional health chiefs confirmed yesterday 21 people had died at a care home in Alcoy near Alicante identified as Domus Vi.

The places where bodies have been “abandoned” have not been identified.

Spain’s Defence Minister Margarita Robles told a prime-time Spanish TV programme: “The army, during some visits, has seen elderly people absolutely abandoned, if not dead in their beds.

“We are going to be implacable and forceful when it comes to ensuring our pensioners receive the proper treatment in these residences.”

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Insisting the great majority of elderly care homes did a proper job of caring properly for their residents, she added: “The full weight of the law will be brought to bear on those who don’t fulfil their obligations.”

Monte Hermoso, near the Spanish capital’s biggest park Casa de Campo, was identified last week as the first OAP care home rocked by mass deaths.

At the time the death toll there was the worst reported so far from a single place in Spain.

It was subsequently overtaken by the residence in Alcoy.

Politicians in Madrid have admitted 20 per cent of its elderly care homes have coronavirus cases.

Workers completely protected are seen while Crystal Palace mall receives the bodies of dead Credit: Getty Images – Getty