The rate of new coronavirus infections and deaths in Spain slowed again on Sunday as the country, suffering from one of the world’s worst outbreaks of the pandemic, began its fourth week under a near-total lockdown.
Deaths from Covid-19 respiratory disease rose to 12,418 on Saturday -- the second-highest worldwide after Italy. However, the toll of 674 people who died during the past 24 hours was down from Saturday’s 809 and well below Thursday’s daily record of 950, the health ministry said.
Sunday's rise represented a 6 per cent increase in total deaths, about half the rate reported a week ago.
The total number of registered infections rose to 130,759 from Saturday’s 124,736.
“Today I unite (with colleagues) to give a small message of hope,” said Gen. Miguel Angel Villaroya, chief of the defence staff, during a coronavirus briefing on Sunday. “We are on the right track and we will beat it (the virus).”
The World Health Organisation’s director for Europe, Hans Kluge, tweeted about Spain: “Careful optimism as result of bold measures, innovative approaches and courageous decisions”.
On Palm Sunday, a week before Easter, churches stood silent and empty in the capital Madrid, while streets that are usually packed with the stalls of the Rastro flea market were deserted.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced an extension of the state of emergency lockdown until April 26 to help tackle “the greatest crisis of our lives”.
