Coronavirus: Cautious hope for peak as Spain set to reopen
The death toll has slowed in some of the worst-hit countries, with Spain readying on Monday to reopen parts of its economy.
The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has slowed in some of the worst-hit countries, with Spain readying on Monday to reopen parts of its economy as governments grapple with a once-in-a-century recession.
Italy, France and the US have all reported a drop in COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours — with Italy, the European nation most afflicted by the disease, reporting its lowest toll in more than three weeks.
Spain’s death toll had fallen last week, but as a small bump in deaths was reported on Sunday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned that the locked-down country was “far from victory”.
“We are all keen to go back out on the streets … but our desire is even greater to win the war and prevent a relapse,” he said, as some companies were set to resume operations at the end of a two-week halt of all non-essential activity.
The fortnight of “economic hibernation” is about to be lifted, drawing criticism from some regional leaders and unions, but the rest of the lockdown restrictions in the nation of about 47 million people will remain in place.
Italy on Sunday reported its lowest death toll in more than three weeks, confirming trends showing that the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe’s worst-hit nation had peaked.
The 431 new deaths reported by the civil protection service were the lowest since March 19. Italy’s death total now stands at 19,899, officially second behind the US.
France on Sunday reported a drop in COVID-19 deaths on the previous 24 hours, with the total toll from the coronavirus epidemic in the country now 14,393. The health ministry said there were 315 deaths in hospital over the last day, compared with 345 the day earlier. The total toll includes those who have died in nursing homes.
France had on April 6 recorded 605 deaths in hospitals, its highest daily number so far.
AFP
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