STATE OF EMERGENCY EXTENDED TO APRIL 12
Measures ‘absolutely indispensable’ to win the battle against Covid-19
MPs have voted to extend state of emergency measures designed to halt the spread of the coronavirus pandemic until April 12.
The parliamentary session was held on Wednesday evening as it was revealed that the number of deaths in Spain had passed the figure reached in
China (see report on p20 ).
During the debate that preceded the vote, prime minister Pedro Sánchez stated that his government had taken the most restrictive and toughest measures and called for ‘time, unity and loyalty’ from other parties.
Minister for health Salvador Illa told the media that the measures were ‘absolutely indispensable’ to win the battle against Covid-19.
He insisted that the national government was doing all they could to purchase the necessary healthcare equipment, in particular respirators for patients who are hospitalised.
Sr Illa said ‘all Spain’s capacity’ was being used to manufacture the products which are desperately needed by the health service. He noted that nearly six million masks have been distributed around the country.
Despite the assurances, some regional authorities such as Valencia have launched their own initiatives to secure materials, sending planes to China to pick up supplies
THE VALENCIA government sent two planes to China at the weekend to pick up essential healthcare material to fight the coronavirus.
Regional president Ximo Puig explained that the first flight brought back 3.8 million face masks, 5,000 protective suits, 200,000 pairs of gloves and goggles to protect health care workers.
The second plane is due to collect respirators to treat patients. He labelled the exercise ‘operation silk route’ – referring to the historic trade route that stretched from Asia to the Mediterranean from the second century BC until the Middle Ages.
Sr Puig explained that China – the origin of the Covid-19 outbreak – is currently the country which has the best capacity to produce these essential items.
The operation to distribute the equipment to local health authorities and old people’s homes started on Wednesday morning.
He said it was necessary to protect the ‘real army’ fighting the coronavirus, ‘who are the healthcare professionals and social services’.
“They have to have the necessary materials to work as safely as possible,” he stated.
He thanked the national government for the effort they have made to supply the regional healthcare service but noted that it had not been enough.
As a result, they had taken the initiative to guarantee that hospitals and healthcare professionals have all they need. Sr Puig added that he supported the government’s move to extend the emergency measures and lockdown in Spain.
He noted that they needed to ‘increase the effectiveness of confinement’ so it did not need to be extended beyond April 12.
“It is absolutely essential that we look after ourselves during this period and that each of us takes our responsibility seriously,” he said.
Sr Puig added that the Valencia region is ‘ready for any situation that we have to face up to’.