Related Story:Â Italy records over 4,000 COVID-19 deaths, surpassing China’s total death toll
Photo from Pexels.com
The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has claimed the lives of many. Spain, for example, had an increase of 738 deaths overnight from the disease. With a total of 3,434 fatalities, Spain now has the second-highest number of deaths globally, exceeding that of China. On the other hand, Italy has the most at 6,820.
Not only that. The infection rate is continuously increasing by a fifth in 24 hours. They now have 47,610 positive cases as of Wednesday.
Currently, Spain is on the 11th day of a 15-day lockdown, which will likely be stretched to 30 days. Schools, bars, restaurants, and most shops are closed, and social gatherings are banned as people are asked to stay at home. According to Health Emergency chief Fernando Simon, they have achieved nearly a total reduction in social contact but adds that Spain may reach the peak of the epidemic.
To help their front-liners, Health Minister Salvador Illa said that the Spanish government has ordered 432 million euros or $467 million worth of protective gear and test kits like masks, gloves, testing kits and ventilators to be delivered. The first batch is expected to arrive by this week and will go on for 8 weeks.
Negative Effects of the Coronavirus
This accelerating health crisis in Spain has overwhelmed nursing homes across the country. Meanwhile, a skating rink in Madrid— the Palacio de Hielo— has been turned into a makeshift morgue to accommodate the large volume. This rink used to be a popular venue for children’s birthdays but is now filled with police, hearses, and ambulances.
In addition, the main avenues in Madrid and Barcelona, along with towns and villages across Spain, have been deserted to allow fire engines and tractors to disinfect and clean the streets. Although in Madrid, which is one of the worst-hit regions, mass testing for public workers has also been underway.
The negative side-effects of this health impact and the lockdown have also affected the country’s economy badly with many workers being temporarily laid off, while sectors like manufacturing and tourism stop for the lockdown. There have also been delays in travel at Malaga Airport, which is located in southern Spain as travelers await flights home. Many slept on seats or on the floor as they wait for feedback.
Do you have a story for the WhenInManila.com Team? Email us at story.wheninmanila@gmail.
