Spain extends its state of emergency until June 21
By Clara-Laeila Laudette and Nathan Allen
MADRID (Reuters) - The Spanish government on Wednesday secured parliament's backing for a final extension to the state of emergency imposed to tackle the coronavirus epidemic and which will now last until June 21.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez sought to extend the state of emergency, which grants his government exceptional powers, to allow greater control over people's mobility as a lockdown that began in mid-March is phased out.
His proposal was narrowly approved in the 350-seat lower house, garnering 177 votes in favour despite opposition from the conservative People's Party and the far-right Vox.
Spain also registered its first death from the coronavirus since Sunday. Confirmed cases increased by 219 from the previous day to 240,326, while the cumulative death toll reached 27,128.
Just a month ago Spain was logging more than 1,000 new cases and hundreds of deaths every day, overwhelming the health service.
In recognition of their "enormous personal sacrifice", front-line medical workers were awarded the prestigious Princess of Asturias Award on Wednesday. The coronavirus infected about 50,000 health workers.
Data released by the National Statistics Institute (INE) revealed a 155% spike in mortality at the epidemic's early-April peak, though not all excess deaths can be directly linked to the coronavirus.
"There are other possible reasons for excess deaths," Health Emergency Coordinator Fernando Simon said, naming seasonal flu as one of them. "Or it could be because of an overloaded health system and delayed access to hospitals."
Thanks to strict confinement measures the government believes the worst is now over, a claim borne out by the INE data, which shows mortality between May 18-24 was at roughly the same level as a year earlier.
As restrictions on movement are eased Spain is evaluating how to restart its tourism industry, which accounts for 12% of economic output.
On Wednesday the tourism ministry said it might open up some limited travel from June 22, despite earlier plans to reopen from July 1.
(Reporting by Clara-Laeila Laudette, Nathan Allen, Inti Landauro, Isla Binnie and Belen Carreno; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
