Spain's daily COVID-19 death toll at 48, excluding Catalonia
People wear protective face masks on the first day of their mandatory use for everyone over six in public spaces, when it is impossible to keep more than two meters social distancing, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Ronda, Spain, May 21, 2020. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Spain's daily death toll from the coronavirus fell below 50 on Thursday for the first time since a lockdown was imposed in mid-March, but the figure excludes deaths in the northeastern region of Catalonia.
Cumulative deaths climbed by 48 to 27,940, while the number of confirmed cases edged up to 233,037, the health ministry said.
Catalan authorities did not update their daily figures due to data-validation problems, the ministry said in a statement, without elaborating on the nature of the problems.
People wear protective face masks on the first day of their mandatory use for everyone over six in public spaces, when it is impossible to keep more than two meters social distancing, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Ronda, Spain, May 21, 2020. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Health Emergency Chief Fernando Simon said officials preferred not to release the Catalan data until they were satisfied with its quality.
"We want to provide the best possible data so people can take solid and informed decisions," he told a news conference.
Including deaths in Catalonia the daily toll would still be around 50, he added.
A man wears a protective face mask on the first day of their mandatory use for everyone over six in public spaces, when it is impossible to keep more than two meters social distancing, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Ronda, Spain, May 21, 2020. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
At the peak of the outbreak in early April, Spain reported as many as 950 deaths a day. A strict lockdown has helped bring the epidemic under control, prompting authorities to begin lifting restrictions.
Bars and restaurants have reopened their terraces in most of the country, people are allowed out to exercise and some shops can open. But fears of a second wave remain and the government introduced mandatory mask use in public from Thursday.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday secured a razor-thin parliamentary majority to extend the emergency state by two weeks, allowing his government to control further easing.
An elderly woman wears a protective face mask on the first day of mandatory use of masks for everyone over six years old in public spaces when it is impossible to keep more than two meters social distancing, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Ronda, Spain, May 21, 2020. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Support for his left-wing coalition is flagging in parliament and on the streets, with pot-banging protests spreading around the country.
(Reporting by Nathan Allen; Editing by Inti Landauro and Catherine Evans)
People wear protective face masks on the first day of mandatory use of masks for everyone over six years old in public spaces when it is impossible to keep more than two meters social distancing, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Ronda, Spain, May 21, 2020. REUTERS/Jon NazcaA girl adjusts her protective face mask as she walks past Puerta de Alcala Gate, on the first day of mandatory use of masks for everyone over six years old in public spaces when it is impossible to keep more than two meters social distancing, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Madrid, Spain, May 21, 2020. REUTERS/Susana VeraPeople wear protective face masks on the first day of mandatory use of masks for everyone over six years old in public spaces when it is impossible to keep more than two meters social distancing, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Ronda, Spain, May 21, 2020. REUTERS/Jon NazcaA tourist stands in front of a bull statue outside a bullring, during the first day of mandatory use of masks for everyone over six years old in public spaces when it is impossible to keep more than two meters social distancing, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Ronda, Spain, May 21, 2020. REUTERS/Jon NazcaA member of civil protection gives a protective face mask to two tourists, during the first day of mandatory use of masks for everyone over six years old in public spaces when it is impossible to keep more than two meters social distancing, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Ronda, Spain, May 21, 2020. REUTERS/Jon NazcaA man holds a protective face mask on the first day of mandatory use of masks for everyone over six years old in public spaces when it is impossible to keep more than two meters social distancing, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at the terrace of a bar in Ronda, Spain, May 21, 2020. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
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