Spain extends the current 15-day state of emergency by another 15 days. The country expects the worst part of the corona crisis to come.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reported the extension to regional leaders on Sunday morning during a video meeting. During the measure, citizens are only allowed to go outside for essential things such as messages.
After Italy, Spain is experiencing the most severe corona outbreak in Europe. This weekend, the death toll has risen to 1,326. The number of confirmed infections is now 24,926.
The Spanish intensive care departments are filling up in many places. “We are still dealing with the impact of the strongest and most damaging wave,” Sanchez said Saturday evening. “That will test our material and the strength of our society.”
The Prime Minister stressed the seriousness of the situation, saying it was the worst crisis since the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. At the time, over half a million people died.
Italy is also tightening up measures
Italy also tightened up the measures on Saturday. All non-essential companies and factories will be closed until April 3. Most Italian stores were already closed. For the time being, only supermarkets, drugstores, pharmacies, post offices, banks and their suppliers will remain operational.
On Saturday, the death toll in Italy reached 4,825. The majority, 3,095 people, come from the Lombardy region.
Macron wants more action from Johnson
There is also a lockdown in France. People are only allowed to go outside for shopping, traveling to work, exercising alone or for health care. According to French media, President Emmanuel Macron has asked British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for stricter measures. If Johnson does not, Macron plans to close the border between the two countries.
Last Friday, the British government closed the catering and gyms, among others. The measures came days later than in the rest of Europe. The French newspaper Liberation wrote that Johnson’s decision came after an ultimatum from Macron. The Frenchman would have threatened an entry stop for any British traveler.
Follow the latest developments around the virus in us live blog.
The coronavirus in short
- The coronavirus mainly spreads through sneezing and cough drops. The virus can be transmitted directly from person to person or (for a limited time) through surfaces such as door handles.
- An infected person infects two to three others on average. Precautions are necessary to contain this.
- The vast majority of patients have mild (flu-like) complaints.
- Nearly all deaths involve the elderly or other frail, such as heart, lung or diabetes patients. If everyone complies with the measures, this reduces their risks.
- Read here what precautions you should take.
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