In Spain, the daily toll of the pandemic dropped Monday to 517 dead as the country cautiously returned to work.
Some Spaniards indeed start to work again after two weeks spent at home. To oversee this recovery, the Spanish government has been distributing 10 million masks since this morning in major stations and metro stations for commuters.
►►► Find our whole file on the coronavirus
Transportation officials have said they will reduce overcrowding on public transportation by limiting the number of passengers and making sure people stay at least three feet away.
Security guards have been following the instructions at several stations since Monday morning.
–
–
A resumption of production only
The focus is in Spain on factories and construction work to boost production. Office workers are strongly encouraged to continue working at home.
In addition, retail trade and services remain closed. The police also remind the population of the very strict containment measures: ban on leaving the home, except for basic purchases, medicines or unavoidable travel.
The lock-down will remain in place for at least two more weeks as part of the current state of emergency declared by the government on March 14.
–
I just hope my colleagues also work with a mask. Otherwise we are screwed.
But many workers return to work with concern. In the Spanish daily El Pais, Rafael Antúnez, 53, formworker on a construction site shares his doubts: “I don’t know why we have to go back if there is no way to separate.”
On construction sites, will one of the sectors that is restarting be able to comply with health and safety regulations? “I just hope that my colleagues also work with a mask. Otherwise, we are fucked up”.
–
2 pictures
–
–
The second most affected country in Europe
The new coronavirus has left 17,489 dead to date in the most bereaved country in Europe after Italy.
But the contagion slows down with 3477 new cases detected in one day, the lowest figure since March 20.
–
