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Bloomberg
Spain reported fewer coronavirus deaths and new cases on Thursday in Europe’s second-most deadly outbreak of the disease.
There were 5,756 new infections in the 24 hours through Thursday, pushing the total above 150,000, according to Health Ministry data. The death toll rose by 683 to 15,238, a smaller gain than Wednesday’s 757.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is asking parliament Thursday for approval to extend a state of emergency through April 25 as officials struggle to bring the disease under control. The government is hoping a longer lockdown will reduce infection rates and set the scene for a gradual relaxation of restrictions on economic activity.
“Full reconstruction can only start when we are completely safe,†Sanchez said. He invited political leaders to a meeting next week so that work on planning Spain’s reconstruction effort can begin.
Thursday’s vote comes as the government struggles to control the narrative about its response to the virus. While the main conservative opposition party has said it will back the extension, its leader is among many detractors who have criticised the administration’s management of the crisis, saying it was disorganised and slow.
Spaniards are also counting the economic cost. The Spanish Business Associations Confederation published a report estimating that the crisis would shrink the economy by at least 5% and as much as 9% in a more extreme scenario.
With most of the nation at a standstill, jobless claims rose the most on record in March and Economy Minister Nadia Calvino has said that April will be bad too.
Sanchez has outlined steps the government is taking to address the crisis, including an aid package of about 100 billion euros ($109 billion).