Spain: Measures saved many lives, but cost the economy

(Patria) – Spain records three consecutive days of reduced fatalities below 200, while the number of social assistance claims grows, indicating the cost of achieving control over the epidemic.

The cost of social assistance paid out in April to 5.2 million Spaniards who depend on it entirely or partially, is triple that of the previous year.

One of the European countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic is slowly emerging from general quarantine, with small businesses reopening their doors after more than 6 weeks.

Spaniards who spent more than 40 days in strict home isolation can finally go out for a walk.

However, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's coalition government must seek parliamentary approval on Wednesday for another extension of the state of emergency, which would give the prime minister broad powers regarding the country's exit from isolation.

The opposition People's Party stated that it does not intend to support another two-week extension of the state of emergency, which otherwise ends on Saturday, and that Sanchez should rely on the law to put the country back on the path to normalization.

Political tension within the government occurs at the most difficult time for Spain, whose economy has been weakened and paralyzed by the epidemic that has claimed more than 25,000 lives and left hundreds of thousands of citizens unemployed.

In the past 24 hours, 185 people have died from coronavirus in Spain. The total number of citizens diagnosed with COVID-19 is 250,561, of whom 154,718 have recovered.