Spain’s daily coronavirus death toll drops to 510

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Spain registered another 510 coronavirus deaths on Saturday, bringing the total number of fatalities to 16,353, according to the Health Ministry.

The figure represents a continued downward trend in daily fatalities since hitting a peak of 950 slightly more than a week ago. Saturday’s toll is the lowest daily since March 23.

Since Friday, 4,830 more cases were confirmed, pushing the total number of cases to 161,852. Of those, 59,109 people have recovered.

Spain’s state of emergency has been extended until April 26, but Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said this week it looked likely that the government will need to extend emergency measures until at least May 11.

Beginning Monday, however, restrictions will be lifted for non-essential economic activity that cannot be done remotely.

Spanish Health Minister Salvador Illa said on Friday that the government will begin handing out masks at bus stops, metro stations and “places where their use is recommendable” – a change of pace as the government previously said masks were not necessary for the general public.

Later Saturday, Sanchez is expected to address the nation about a gradual de-escalation of confinement measures.

On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned about a “deadly resurgence” of the virus if containment measures are lifted prematurely.

“The way down can be as dangerous as the way up if not managed properly,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.