Spain records 325 new deaths as total COVID-19 cases pass 212,000

Spain recorded 325 deaths from the novel coronavirus overnight, up from 301 reported the previous day, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday. The overall death toll from the virus, however, rose by 453 to 24,275, it said, clarifying that some of the additional cases were from the previous days. 

Moreover, an additional 2,144 new cases were reported, taking the total number of COVID-19 infections to 212,917.

On Tuesday, Spain announced a four-phase plan to ease lockdown restrictions which were put in place on March 14. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said lifting of the restrictions will begin on May 4 and vary from province to province.

In the initial phase, hairdressers and other businesses that operate via appointment will open, while restaurants will be able to offer takeaway services. In the next stage, envisaged to begin on May 11 for most of Spain, bars will reopen their terraces but will be limited to a third of their capacity. From this point, healthy people with no underlying medical conditions will be allowed to socialize in small groups, while family members will be permitted to attend funerals.

Advancing through the stages will depend on factors such as how the rate of infection evolves, the number of intensive care beds available, and compliance with distancing rules, Sanchez said, without providing concrete thresholds for such evaluation.

(With input from Reuters)