Spain extends state of emergency as coronavirus crisis worsens

Thursday, 26 March 2020 15:00

Spain on Thursday extended its state of emergency as death toll from coronavirus rose to over 4,000.

The parliament on Thursday voted to extend the state of lockdown for 15 more days.

"It is not easy to extend the state of emergency," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in Parliament. "I am convinced the only efficient option against the virus is social isolation."

Spain now has the second-highest number of deaths globally after Italy, with the overall number of coronavirus cases at a staggering 56,188.

More from International News

France's top court blocks social media ban for under-15s

France's top court on Friday blocked a bill banning social media access for under-15s, saying it infringed upon freedom of expression and delivering a setback for President Emmanuel Macron, who asked his government to rewrite the legislation.
Japan's record rains strand thousands at Narita airport; kill eight

Record rainfall in Japan stranded thousands of travellers at Tokyo's Narita airport on Friday, bringing floods to the surrounding area that disrupted transport, knocked out power to 20,000 homes and killed eight.
Tunnel collapses at Indian hydropower project, killing at least 7

A tunnel under construction at a hydropower project in India's northern hill state of Uttarakhand collapsed overnight, leaving at least seven workers dead, officials said on Friday.
Air India A320 briefly lost key flight controls, Airbus analysis shows

An Air India Airbus dropped about 300 feet this month, injuring 24 people on board, after the aircraft registered a loss of hydraulic pressure that briefly left key flight controls unresponsive, according to a preliminary Airbus analysis reviewed by Reuters.