Spain recorded 637 new coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours – the fourth straight day that number has fallen and the lowest daily total since March 24.
The figure raises the total killed during the country’s crisis from 12,418 to 13,055. The number of new infections increased by 4,273 from 130,759 to 135,032.
It marks a 3.3 per cent rise in new cases and a 5.1 per cent rise in new deaths, the lowest rate of increase since lockdown measures were announced on March 14 amid signs the strict policy is working.
Spain and Italy were among the first European countries to go into lockdown as they were hit hardest and quickest by the virus – but are now plotting their route back out again as the infection eases.
On Sunday, Spain’s economy minister said the country will bring in a form of universal basic income ‘as soon as possible’ to help families hit by the lockdown.
Spain recorded 637 new deaths from coronavirus on Monday, the fourth consecutive day that number has fallen and the lowest daily total since March 24
The country also recorded 4,273 new cases, marking an increase of just 3.3 per cent – the lowest rate of increase since the lockdown began on March 14
Nadia Calvino told the La Sexta newspaper that parliament is planning to introduce a pilot programme, with a view to it becoming a permanent policy.
It will compliment ‘a series of measures so that no one is left out or left behind, starting with the workers,’ she said.
If fully implemented, it would mark the first time that an entire country has adopted a permanent form of universal basic income, after trials and referendums on the measure in countries including Finland, Canada and Switzerland.
Spain recorded 950 deaths from coronavirus on April 2 – which now appears to have been the peak of the country’s outbreak, with that figure falling every day since.
While infection data has been less clear-cut, amid issues with testing, the rate of new infections has been falling consistently since March 25.
Despite the encouraging signs, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Sunday that he would be extending the country-wide lockdown until April 26.
Nadia Calvino, deputy prime minister and minister for economic affairs, said a pilot scheme for basic income will be brought in ‘as soon as possible’ with a view to it being permanent
He said Spain is ‘close’ to defeating the virus and would begin to make a transition to ‘recover some of our economic and social life’.
He added that the extension was needed ‘in order to give time to the health system to recover’.
It marked the second time the lockdown has been extended since coming into force on March 14.
Madrid, the capital, has recorded the highest number of deaths from coronavirus in the country, at 4,941, followed by Catalonia, which has recorded 2,637 deaths.
Andalusia, which includes the Costa del Sol, has recorded 8,301 cases and 470 deaths.
Spain recorded its highest number on Thursday this week, at 950.
Health chiefs say although the actual number of coronavirus infections is stabilising, the situation could worsen if confinement orders were lifted.
The government’s current strategy aims to lift the restrictions after the Easter holidays, reports El Pais.
A graph showing the daily total of new coronavirus cases up until April 5, with the figure consistently falling for the past four days
A graph showing the number of daily deaths from coronavirus in Spain up until April 5, with the figure consistently falling since April 2
Funeral workers pictured preparing to bury a coffin as Spain is gripped by coronavirus
Spain has recorded the second highest number of deaths from coronavirus in the world, with its numbers only being surpassed by Italy.
The Prime Minister needs the support of Spain’s lower house, the Congress of Deputies, to extend the alarm but Pablo Casado, the leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP) has been increasingly critical of the government’s handling of the crisis.
He recently accused the Socialist leader of ‘improvising’ and said his way of dealing with the coronavirus crisis was an ‘explosive cocktail of arrogance, incompetence and lies’.
Spain is also working on new advice and measures, including advising all Spaniards to wear face masks when outside.
At the moment, however, there are insufficient stocks to give to the entire population.