Healthcare workers push a patient on a stretcher at the emergency unit at 12 de Octubre Hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Juan Medina
Spain overtook China in the number of those infected with coronavirus on Monday, as the government tightened restrictions on a population entering its third week under one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe.
Business leaders criticized Spain's actions over the weekend to ban all non-essential work until mid-April and to extend for another two weeks a nationwide shutdown that has paralyzed industries like car manufacturing and tourism.
Jeronimo Garcia, 53, wearing a face mask poses as he delivers protective face shields, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Ronda, southern Spain, March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
"If you stop the country, we'll have a huge social problem within five months," Antonio Garamendi, president of Spain's business association, said in a television interview.
The total number of infections rose to 85,195 on Monday, above the 81,470 registered in China where the disease originated. An overnight death toll of 812 people brought fatalities in Spain from the virus to 7,340.
Still, the daily infection increase has slowed since the introduction of lockdown measures, falling to 12% on average in the past five days from around 20% in the preceding 10 days, said health emergency spokeswoman Maria Jose Sierra, brought in to substitute for her predecessor who has tested positive for the virus.
Jeronimo Garcia, 53, shows a protective face shield, as he and his son Jairo, 20, give a box with protective face shields to a nun at a school, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Ronda, southern Spain, March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Madrid held a minute of silence for the victims of the disease, and Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings was played from loudspeakers at the town hall while the regional, Spanish and European Union flags flew at half mast.
The government said it was imposing caps on funeral prices, following reports that undertakers were taking advantage of increased demand.
The left-wing government must tread a fine line between slowing the spread of a disease that has overwhelmed the health service and preserving employment in a country with the second-highest jobless rate in Europe.
Jairo Garcia, 20, gives a box with protective face shields to a nun at a school, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Ronda, southern Spain, March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
The government gave businesses an extra 24 hours to wind down operations, with full closure of non-essential activity to start on Tuesday.
Spain unveiled earlier this month a 200 billion euro ($220 billion) economic aid package to help furloughed workers get benefits and businesses draw state-backed credit lines.
In further measures to soften the blow of the outbreak, the government is likely to approve on Tuesday a moratorium on rent for vulnerable groups like unemployed people with dependents, government sources said.
Medical staff from Fundacion Jimenez Diaz hospital hold a banner reading "Thank you all" as neighbours applaud from their balconies in support for healthcare workers, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Madrid, Spain, March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Sergio Perez
However, in a show of how some parts of the economy such as grocery retail are booming as people hunker down at home, supermarket chain Dia said on Monday it had hired 1,000 people to deal with increased demand in online orders.
(Additional reporting by Nathan Allen, Belen Carreno and Jesus Aguado; Writing by Sonya Dowsett; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Giles Elgood)
People confined in their homes applaud from their balconies in support of healthcare workers, outside Fundacion Jimenez Diaz hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Madrid, Spain, March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Sergio PerezPolice officers applaud in support of healthcare workers outside Fundacion Jimenez Diaz hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Madrid, Spain, March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Sergio PerezMedical staff from Fundacion Jimenez Diaz hospital react as neighbours applaud from their balconies in support for healthcare workers, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Madrid, Spain, March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Sergio PerezA police officer gives a thumbs up as others applaud in support of healthcare workers outside Fundacion Jimenez Diaz hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Madrid, Spain, March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Sergio PerezPeople exercise at their balconies, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Ronda, southern Spain, March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Jon NazcaA pharmacy employee walks on an empty street of Ronda, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, southern Spain, March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Jon NazcaWorkers of the multinational ArcelorMittal take the temperature of a member of personnel who enter a factory using digital thermometers and thermal cameras to help combat the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Gijon Spain, March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Eloy AlonsoWorkers at the multinational ArcelorMittal take the temperature of personnel entering the factory to help combat the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Gijon, Spain March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Eloy AlonsoA person walks in an empty Puerta del Sol square amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain, March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Sergio PerezA sign reading ''Madrid you will make it possible. Stay at home. Be responsible'' is pictured in an empty street amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain, March 30, 2020. The graffiti reads: ''COVID-19: Government weapon''. REUTERS/Sergio PerezPeople keep social distancing as they wait outside a food bank owned by charity entity Caritas amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain, March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Sergio PerezGeneral view of deserted Paseo de la Castellana street amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain, March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Sergio PerezHealthcare workers wearing protective face masks push a patient in a wheelchair at the emergency unit at 12 de Octubre Hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Juan MedinaPeople poses to practice social distancing with a ruler, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Ronda, southern Spain, March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Jon NazcaA medical worker wears a protective face mask outside the emergency unit at 12 de Octubre Hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Juan MedinaA member of the Royal Guard wearing protective gear sanitises a dumpster outside the emergency unit at 12 de Octubre Hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Juan MedinaMembers of the Royal Guard wear protective face masks outside the emergency unit at 12 de Octubre Hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Juan MedinaMembers of the Royal Guard wearing protective face masks gather outside the emergency unit at 12 de Octubre Hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Juan MedinaA member of the Royal Guard wears protective gear outside the emergency unit at 12 de Octubre Hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Juan MedinaMembers of the Royal Guard wear protective face masks outside the emergency unit at 12 de Octubre Hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Juan MedinaHealthcare workers wearing protective face masks bring oxygen bottles to the emergency unit at 12 de Octubre Hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid, Spain March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Juan Medina
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