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This week the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, is pushing for a third
extension to the quarantine, whilst over in Germany they have given the go
ahead for clinical trials of a possible vaccine for COVID-19.  This being
the fifth of this phase to be authorized worldwide. With another 435 deaths
recorded in Spain within the last 24 hours, scientists are working against
the clock to find a long term solution.
The Spanish Congress is to vote on the proposed government extension of 10th
May 2020 later today. Almost all the political parties were united when
voting for the first confinement. Things changed however for the second
extension with the Vox and CUP parties against the extension and the PP
voting in favour but with less conviction. Now Sanchez will find it more
difficult with even less support, with both the Vox and CUP reiterating
their plans of a no vote. The Catalan CUP party is concerned that the
government will be using the state of alarm as a pretext to reduce people’s
rights and the Vox asking for the resignation of the entire government for
the executive order being imprudent and leading to deaths.
The Minister of Health , Salvador Illa , has announced yesterday that he
will allow children under 14 to take walks starting this Sunday 26th April.
Illa has also specified that "taking walks" is "taking walks" and that their
conditions will be regulated in the coming days, such as distance or maximum
time. This is due to be confirmed this Saturday 25th if the extension is
approved.
The PP spokesman in Congress has declared their support for the extension so
that children could go out for walks as the government has proposed.
However, the PP´s yes is not yet guaranteed. They are highly critical to the
government’s management of the COVID-19 crisis and propose a series of
measures such as eliminating inheritance tax for heirs of the virus. If the
PP votes today in favour then it will give Sanchez a very large majority for
the new expansion of confinement.
Last week saw the start of a few professionals and businesses once again
commencing work including take away restaurants, plumbers, electricians,
opticians, car workshops, taxis, pet shops, cleaning/maintenance companies
and builders amongst others. It is encouraging to see these all important
steps of re-emergence to get the economy back on its feet.