Daily tolls falling in Europe
SPAIN saw a glimmer of hope yesterday as the number of daily deaths and new infections continued to fall.
Health Minister Salvador Illa said the latest daily toll was 674 fatalities and 1,488 new cases. On Saturday 809 people died and on Friday it was a record 950.
Yesterday’s number of deaths represented a six per cent rise – the smallest increase since early March. It brought the total to 12,418.
Hopes
There are 80,261 active infections in the country – 1,488 more than on Saturday.
Spain’s downward trend mirrors Italy – where the daily death toll fell from 766 on Friday to 681 on Saturday – and France, where it dropped from 588 to 441.
Meanwhile, Italy recorded its lowest daily coronavirus death toll in more than a fortnight.A further 525 deaths have been reported, the lowest 24-hour tally since the middle of last month.
And the number of patients in intensive care has also fallen for the second day running, sparking hopes the epidemic has plateaued.
Italy has still seen the most deaths of any country, at 15,887, while Spain is second, the US third (at 9,326) and France fourth (7,560).
Spain’s figures also revealed that 38,080 residents have recovered from the virus – nearly 4,000 more than the number reported on Saturday.
The country’s four-week lockdown has been extended until April 25 but ministers hinted that some restrictions may be lifted after Easter.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a televised address: “We are at the start of the decrease in the epidemic.We’re stronger than we think but we must endure – with sacrifice, resistance and the spirit of victory.” He also demanded a united front from the EU, saying: “Solidarity is a key principle of the EU treaties.And it is shown at times like this.”
Meanwhile Señor Illa said yesterday: “The data from this week and today confirms the slowing down of infections.The data confirms that confinement is working.”
Defence Minister Margarita Robles called the trends “encouraging and hopeful”.
Screening
But Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos warned of “the most serious crisis of our recent history”.
WHO director for Europe, Hans Kluge, described the Spanish response as “careful optimism after bold measures, innovative approaches and courageous decisions”.
One million coronavirus testing kits were due to arrive in the country yesterday and today to pinpoint the spread through “rapid screening”.