COVID-19: Spain sees lowest 24-hour death toll in 17 days

Lockdown-related restrictions in Spain are expected to stay in place till April 25

medical-workers-nurses-spain-doctors-hospital-AP Home care doctors, nurses and health staff take part in the morning meeting at a clinic in Barcelona, Spain, March 31, 2020 | AP

Spain, the third hardest-hit country by the coronavirus pandemic, is in for some good news. It saw the lowest day toll of lives lost in 17 days. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday said, "Fire started by the pandemic is starting to come under control".

Spain, as of Thursday reported 605 new deaths from coronavirus, the lowest tally since March 23. This brought the total number of deaths in the country to 15,843. The total number of infected cases in the country is now 157,022

As per an AFP report, EU finance ministers agreed to a €500 billion ($550 billion) rescue package after late-night talks on Thursday, aiming to reduce the pain across the 27-nation bloc, especially in Italy and Spain.

Health experts say the pandemic in Spain has reached its peak. They have hence urged people to adhere to protocols of national lockdown, which was put in place on March 14.

The restrictions are expected to remain in place until April 25.

The death toll due to COVID-19 in the UK in the last 24 hours rose by 881. PM Boris Johnson remains hospitalised but was moved out of the intensive care unit.

France on Thursday reported a fall in the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care for the first time since the epidemic began. As per a report on France24, the number is currently at 7,062 people in intensive care, a drop by 82 in the last 24 hours. The death toll in France has crossed 12,210. France has been under lockdown since March 17. The lockdown was supposed to be lifted by April 15. But will be extended further, President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced on Wednesday.