Spaniards return to work but most regions are opposed

Madrid Spain.

Non-essential economic activities, such as heavy industry and the building, They resume from this Monday in Spain, after two weeks paralyzed by order of the Government to stop the coronavirus, but some regions, including Catalonia, warned of the risks that million employees go back to work.

The Prime Minister, the Socialist Pedro Sánchez, assured this Sunday, in a telematic press conference, that the protection and safety of the workers, while urging you to achieve great national pact to relaunch the economy when the pandemic.

The security and Civil Protection forces will distribute until Wednesday 10 million of face masks to the employees that move in means of collective transport, such as trains, subways and buses, to prevent infections

However, the Government maintains the alarm status at least until April 26, with the obligation to remain in the households (except to work or buy basic products), as well as border controls and the closure of countless educational, cultural, sports, hospitality and commercial establishments.

LOWER THE RATE OF CONTACTS

The rate of increase of new cases of coronavirus it slowed to 2.5 percent daily on Spain, the lowest figure since the start of the crisis, until reaching 166,019 infections confirmed, reported today the Ministry of Health.

The daily deceased they rebounded to 619 and reached 16,972, among them 23 doctors, according to the Official College of Physicians of Madrid, nine pharmacists and several nurses.

“We are still far from victory” in the fight coronavirus, although the “decisive first steps” for that objective have already been taken, he highlighted Sanchez after speaking in a video conference with the presidents of the Spanish regions, responsible for managing health in their territories.

Sánchez recalled that, despite the partial return to activity, Spain remains in “general confinement” of the population due to the pandemic. The phase of “de-escalation” or removal of movement restrictions It has not arrived, but will take place at the earliest in two weeks and “progressively and cautiously,” he added.

REVIEWS OF REGIONAL PRESIDENTS

The Government decided that workers in non-essential economic and professional sectors who were still active despite the alarm status remained at their homes between March 30 and April 9 with a paid and recoverable permit to reinforce the confinement, and they rejoin after Holy Week.

The Ministry of Health considers that to return from this Monday to the restrictions and measures of initial confinement decreed on March 14 will serve to continue reducing the expansion of coronavirus and it is an “effective” and “sufficient” decision.

However, Sánchez received reproaches today from both conservative regional rulers and nationalists what do you consider hasty the partial return to work, it could involve a recoil of the epidemic control, and they ask for more participation in decision-making.

The President of Catalonia, the independentista Quim Torra, considered “a recklessness and an absolute recklessness” to now lift some restrictions, and warned Sanchez that, if you do not rectify the decision, you risk having to decree more confinements totals later.

For his part, the president of Castilla y León, the conservative Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, raised “wait a few days”, because he does not believe that security is guaranteed “or the circumstances are not met” in order to achieve it.

See: US prepares to lift quarantine in May

Drastic measures to limit movement of the population and economic activities applied by the Government are seriously affecting the wealth and employment, with tourism among the hardest hit sectors.

“We need a great pact for the social and economic reconstruction of the country,” urged Sánchez today, who stressed that Spain faces an “immense” challenge due to the economic effects of the pandemic.

The Spaniards live “the greatest crisis in our lives“and the largest threat “in a century”, for which he insisted that “the answer must be united” by parties, regions, business groups and unions.EFE

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