The confinement of the Spaniards is extended until April 11

USPA NEWS - The Spanish Government will ask Parliament on Wednesday to extend the state of alarm for another fourteen days, until April 11 inclusive. This was announced this Sunday to the presidents of the regions by the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez. The forecast that, over the next few weeks, the number of those infected by COVID-19 will increase exponentially and the confirmation that the social isolation of the Spaniards is, for the moment, the best weapon against the coronavirus, has led the chief of the Executive to extend the restrictions of movements of the population until Easter.

In principle, no other extreme measures will be adopted, reported Pedro Sánchez, who in a televised intervention defended that the state of alarm decreed by his Government on March 14 imposes "harsh conditions" on the Spaniards, although he stated that they are necessary to cut off coronavirus infections in Spain. So far, COVID-19 has infected 28,572 people across the country - 12% of them, health workers - and has caused 1,720 deaths. Of this death toll, 1,021 correspond to Madrid, the region where the coronavirus has impacted the most.

The Spanish Government has been warning that, over the next few weeks, the number of infected will increase exponentially. "The worst awaits us," warned the Spanish PM. Health authorities expect the maximum peak of infections to be reached in mid-April, which means that, until then, the numbers of those infected and deaths from coronavirus will continue to increase.

The extension of the state of alarm will come accompanied by five new measures: the control by the Government of all private nursing homes, in order to decongest public residences; the restriction for 30 days of the trips by plane or ship that are made from outside of Spain and that are not essential; the assumption by the Armed Forces of the transfer of patients from hospitals that are saturated to other centers with sufficient health resources; the reinforcement of the home food distribution systems, so that the elderly do not have to go out into the streets, and the creation of a strategic reserve of health products and materials to fight future pandemics.

Spaniards who want to return, tourists who return, the transport of merchandise, flight personnel of airlines, diplomatic personnel and people who prove reasons of force majeure will be exempt from the restriction of travel to Spain. The land borders remain closed and will continue to be so, at least until next April 11.

Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez, who spoke to the country on television on Saturday night and this Sunday offered a virtual press conference, called on the EU to increase its budget to fight the pandemic and to approve new measures on the deficits that relax pressure on the most affected countries.