ARCHIVED - State of alarm to continue until May as Spanish president acknowledges errors
The emergency measure must remain in place to allow restrictions to be managed until Spain reaches its goal of fewer than 25 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, Pedro Sánchez has said
The current state of alarm, which was declared on 25th October 2020, is to remain in place until 9th May, Spanish president Pedro Sánchez has announced. Although a clause was included which would have allowed it to be lifted after 4 and a half months, on 9th March, current conditions mean that this is out of the question.
The president admitted that it was a mistake to ease restrictions so hastily to “alleviate emotional fatigue” and reactivate the economy after the first lockdown. The Spanish government, he acknowledged, was too quick to favour the economy over health and that contributed to the increase in cases after the summer. Sr Sánchez also noted that the same happened at Christmas when exceptions were made to ease restrictions with similar results.
The government has learned its lesson, Sr Sánchez said, and is now intent on keeping its guard up as the situation is still serious. “This is no easy task, it only takes a little spark for the virus to spread,” he said.
Image: Congreso de los Diputados