Spain Enters ‘Longest Period Of Mourning’ For 27,000 People Who Died With Coronavirus

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TOPLINE

Flags on public buildings across Spain have been lowered as the nation enters 10 days of national mourning—the longest period it is history as a democracy—to remember the thousands of people it has lost to coronavirus.

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A Minute of silence is observed at noon in the Civil Guard Command with flags at half-staffEuropa Press via Getty Images

KEY FACTS

The mourning period was announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Tuesday, who tweeted: “10 days, the longest period of mourning in our democracy, in which we will all express our sorrow and pay homage to those who have died.” A minute’s silence was held on Wednesday, led by King Felipe VI, Sanchez, and health workers.

Spain is one of the countries worst hit by coronavirus in the world, counting more than 27,100 deaths linked to the illness as of Wednesday, and 236,000 infections.

The vast majority of deaths was among people aged 70 and over, according to the Spanish government.

Until June 5, flags will fly at half-staff on all public buildings and Spanish naval ships.

King Felipe VI will preside over a national mourning ceremony once Spain fully emerges from lockdown.

No other country has announced a mourning period as long as Spain’s, and Sanchez’s announcement yesterday followed calls from opposition lawmakers to remember the dead.

 

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A Spanish flag waves at half-staff in mourning for Covid 19 victims at the Spanish Army Captaincy ... [+] building in BarcelonaGetty Images
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Mounted police stand one minute silence at Sol square in Madrid on WednesdayAnadolu Agency via Getty Images
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The president of the government of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno (3R), among other counsellors, are seen ... [+] in front of San Telmo Palace in Seville during a minute of silenceEuropa Press via Getty Images
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People stand one minute silence at Sol square in MadridAnadolu Agency via Getty Images
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A woman wearing a mask walks in front of a giant black ribbon installed at the Puerta de Alcala on ... [+] May 27, 2020 in MadridAFP via Getty Images
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The Spanish flag flies at half mastAFP via Getty Images
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The president of the Senate, Pilar Llop, among other senators, are seen during a minute of silence ... [+] at Marina SquareEuropa Press via Getty Images
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MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 27: A man wearing mask as a precaution against the spread of the new type of ... [+] coronavirus (Covid-19) poses in a street in MadridAnadolu Agency via Getty Images

Additional info

Spain’s 47 million people are gradually emerging from a strict lockdown that was imposed on March 14. After two months of home confinement, groups of up to 10 people can meet up, while cafes and restaurants are opening up with limited capacity.

Key background

Spain’s health workers bore the brunt of one of Europe’s worst outbreaks, with total infections among professionals totalling 20% of the national infection tally, one of the highest rates on the world, according to the European Centre for Disease Control. Care homes housing some of Spain’s most elderly residents were so overwhelmed that, at one point, soldiers sent in to disinfect the sites found elderly patients dead in their beds, while temporary mortuaries, including in Madrid’s Ice Palace rink, were set up to ease pressure on funeral homes that were at capacity.

Tangent

Trump ordered flags on all national buildings and monuments be lowered to half-staff for three days last week as almost 100,000 people in the U.S. have died after contracting coronavirus. The move followed pressure from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Further reading

Spain: Pension Payouts And Registrations Fall After Coronavirus Crisis Hits Elderly (Forbes)

Pelosi, Schumer Urge Trump To Lower Flags When Virus Death Toll Reaches 100,000 (Forbes)

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