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VIRUS-SPAIN-TOLL
Spain’s virus death toll tops 22,000
MADRID, April 23, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Spain said Thursday 440 people died in
the past 24 hours from the new coronavirus, a slight increase for the third
day running, bringing the overall death toll to 22,157.
The country has suffered the third-highest number of deaths in the world
from the pandemic after the United States and Italy, with infections now more
than 213,000 cases, health ministry figures showed.
Spanish health officials believe the epidemic peaked on April 2 when 950
people died over 24 hours, nearly three weeks after the government imposed a
strict lockdown, effectively confining almost 47 million citizens to home to
slow the spread of the virus.
“We have achieved the goal of a deceleration and slowdown for this week but
we remain in a hard phase of the epidemic,” Health Minister Salvador Illa told
a news conference.
The March 14 lockdown has been twice extended and parliament late on
Wednesday approved a fresh extension until May 9, although conditions are to
be slightly eased from April 26 to allow children to spend some time outside.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told the assembly on Wedneday he hoped Spain
could begin to ease its restrictions — some of the tightest in Europe —
during the second half of May, but warned that “de-escalation will be slow”.
BSS/AFP/MMA/1600HRS