Spain Enters ‘Longest Period Of Mourning’ For 27,000 People Who Died With Coronavirus
by Isabel TogohTOPLINE
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.
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.
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)