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Spain announces 812 virus deaths in 24 hours, total 7,340
MADRID, March 30, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Spain confirmed another 812 deaths in
24 hours from the coronavirus on Monday, bringing the total number of deaths
to 7,340, according to health ministry figures.
It is the first decline in the number of deaths in a 24-hour period since
Thursday in Spain, which has the world’s second most deadly outbreak after
Italy. Spain recorded 838 virus deaths on Sunday.
The number of confirmed cases in Spain has now reached 85,195 — after the
one-day increase of 8.0 percent.
However, officials have pointed to a slower growth rate for both deaths
and confirmed cases and expressed hope that the peak of the outbreak was
approaching.
The percentage increase in the number of deaths on Monday over the
previous day was of 12.4 percent, less than half the increase of 27 percent
recorded on Wednesday.
Spain imposed a near-total nationwide lockdown on March 14 to try to curb
the spread of the virus, banning people from leaving their homes except to go
to work, buy food and medicine or care for a sick relative.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Saturday announced even stricter lockdown
measures which will force all non-essential workers in the nation of around
47 million residents to stay home for the next two weeks.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1743 hrs