‘Worst over’ in Spain as death rate drops again

THE pace of new deaths in Spain slowed for a fourth day, raising hopes that the worst may be over in the world’s second-worst affected country.

Another 637 fatalities were reported – a five per cent increase and less than half the rate recorded a week earlier.

The total number of deaths is now 13,055 – more than anywhere except Italy – while only the US has more confirmed infections than Spain’s 135,032.

But Maria Jose Sierra, deputy head of the health emergency committee, said: ‘The pandemic’s growth rate is slowing down in almost every region.’

Christian Vigil, a doctor at Madrid’s October 12 Hospital, confirmed: ‘ We have noticed a decline in the number of people coming to the hospital emergency ward.’

The slowdown may signal the beginning of the end of a crisis so severe that cremation providers in Barcelona have been overwhelmed.

Some corpses will have to be buried temporarily and put on a waiting list for up to two years.

In Madrid, coffin-maker Maria Chao said orders had gone up ten-fold.

Meanwhile, many Spaniards are becoming frustrated with the strict lockdown put in place to control the spread of infection.

Mum Sandra Eva tweeted: ‘My four-year-old daughter asks me why we can’t go out to watch the #Easter processions. That it’s not fair... That she wants to see them. And that she’s sick of the #coronavirus.’

Prime minister Pedro Sanchez said at the weekend that the lockdown would remain in place until April 26.

But he opened the door to easing some restrictions after Easter.

Officials said that for measures to be lifted, testing will have to be widened so that carriers who may have no symptoms or only very mild ones can be identified. At the moment tests are only being done on health workers and people feared to have the virus.