news--2020-04-09--Coronavirus: Spain close to the beginning of a decline in epidemic - PM

Spain is close to the beginning of a decline in the coronavirus epidemic , the country 's prime minister has said .
Health officials reported 5,756 new cases and 683 new deaths over the latest 24-hour period .
That is compared with 6,180 new cases and 757 deaths on Wednesday .
It comes as Germany , Italy and Denmark indicated that improving figures on coronavirus could mean restrictions being lifted , or partially lifted , within weeks .
Spain 's PM Pedro Sanchez urged all political parties to join a pact for national economic revival once the COVID-19 crisis is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire starts to come under control ...
This war against the virus will be a total victory . ''
The Spanish parliament was expected to vote for a two-week extension of Spain 's state of emergency which would keep people at home until 26 April .
The government 's proposed new economic deal is inspired by the `` Pacts of Moncloa '' , signed in 1977 after the death of dictator Francisco Franco to transform the state-run economy into a market economy for newly-democratic Spain .
It seeks to unite the splintered political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regions to get behind a common economic reconstruction plan .
`` I propose a great pact for the economic and social reconstruction of Spain , for all the political forces who want to lend their shoulder to take part , '' said Mr Sanchez , a Socialist who leads a left-wing coalition government after a series of inconclusive elections .
Spain has put in place some of the toughest measures in Europe to combat the COVID-19 outbreak which have seen a reduction in the proportional daily increase in new infections to 4 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has recorded more than 152,000 infections and 15,283 deaths since the start of the COVID-19 .
Despite the extension of the lockdown , the government plans to ease restrictions for companies after shutting down all non-essential businesses almost two weeks ago .
German health minister Jens Spahn said on Thursday that the coronavirus infection numbers in Germany were showing a `` positive trend '' and if that continued , it would be possible to talk about a gradual return to normality after the Easter break .
He said people continuing to adhere to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a precondition for a possible easing of the lockdown .
Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany , which has seen 2,349 people die after contracting COVID-19 , will re-evaluate the situation after Easter .
Meanwhile , Italy may start gradually lifting some restrictions by the end of April , provided the spread of the disease continues to slow .
Prime minister Giuseppe Conte said : `` We need to pick sectors that can restart their activity .
If scientists confirm it , we might begin to relax some measures already by the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Conte warned that Italy could not lower its guard and restrictions would only be eased gradually .
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker Denmark is to reopen nurseries and primary schools for pupils aged up to 11 next week as it begins a gradual lifting of its lockdown .
Prime minister Mette Frederiksen said her government planned to open schools on 15 April for younger students first because the requirement to care for them represented a greater burden on society .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would remain closed for now , and churches , libraries , sports venues and shopping centres would remain closed until at least 10 May .
Denmark will keep in force border controls and ban gatherings of more than 10 people at least until 10 May .
Ms Frederiksen stressed the announced gradual easing of the lockdown would take place only if the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases remains stable and there is no major increase over Easter .
Denmark has reported 218 coronavirus-related deaths and a total of 5,597 infections .

Spain is close to the beginning of a decline in the coronavirus epidemic, the country's prime minister has said.
Health officials reported 5,756 new cases and 683 new deaths over the latest 24-hour period. That is compared with 6,180 new cases and 757 deaths on Wednesday.
It comes as Germany, Italy and Denmark indicated that improving figures on coronavirus could mean restrictions being lifted, or partially lifted, within weeks.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:29 Is Spain winning the war on Covid-19?
Spain's PM Pedro Sanchez urged all political parties to join a pact for national economic revival once the COVID-19 crisis is over.
He said: "The fire starts to come under control... This war against the virus will be a total victory."
The Spanish parliament was expected to vote for a two-week extension of Spain's state of emergency which would keep people at home until 26 April.
The government's proposed new economic deal is inspired by the "Pacts of Moncloa", signed in 1977 after the death of dictator Francisco Franco to transform the state-run economy into a market economy for newly-democratic Spain.
It seeks to unite the splintered political landscape to include unions, companies and regions to get behind a common economic reconstruction plan.
"I propose a great pact for the economic and social reconstruction of Spain, for all the political forces who want to lend their shoulder to take part," said Mr Sanchez, a Socialist who leads a left-wing coalition government after a series of inconclusive elections.
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Spain has put in place some of the toughest measures in Europe to combat the COVID-19 outbreak which have seen a reduction in the proportional daily increase in new infections to 4% from 22%.
Overall, Spain has recorded more than 152,000 infections and 15,283 deaths since the start of the COVID-19.
Despite the extension of the lockdown, the government plans to ease restrictions for companies after shutting down all non-essential businesses almost two weeks ago.
German health minister Jens Spahn said on Thursday that the coronavirus infection numbers in Germany were showing a "positive trend" and if that continued, it would be possible to talk about a gradual return to normality after the Easter break.
He said people continuing to adhere to the restrictions over the festival holiday was a precondition for a possible easing of the lockdown.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany, which has seen 2,349 people die after contracting COVID-19, will re-evaluate the situation after Easter.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:24 Elation as 94-year-old beats COVID-19 in Spain
Meanwhile, Italy may start gradually lifting some restrictions by the end of April, provided the spread of the disease continues to slow.
Prime minister Giuseppe Conte said: "We need to pick sectors that can restart their activity. If scientists confirm it, we might begin to relax some measures already by the end of this month."
However, Mr Conte warned that Italy could not lower its guard and restrictions would only be eased gradually.
:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
Denmark is to reopen nurseries and primary schools for pupils aged up to 11 next week as it begins a gradual lifting of its lockdown.
Prime minister Mette Frederiksen said her government planned to open schools on 15 April for younger students first because the requirement to care for them represented a greater burden on society.
She said restaurants, bars and cafes would remain closed for now, and churches, libraries, sports venues and shopping centres would remain closed until at least 10 May.
Denmark will keep in force border controls and ban gatherings of more than 10 people at least until 10 May.
Ms Frederiksen stressed the announced gradual easing of the lockdown would take place only if the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases remains stable and there is no major increase over Easter.
Denmark has reported 218 coronavirus-related deaths and a total of 5,597 infections.


news--2020-04-09--Coronavirus: Stock markets rally despite latest evidence of economic impact

Stock markets have rallied despite latest evidence of the catastrophic impact coronavirus is having on the global economy - as central banks stepped in with more help .
London 's FTSE 100 closed 165 points , or nearly 3 % , higher while on Wall Street the S & P 500 closed up 1.4 % .
For the FTSE , it was the best week since 2009 , with an upturn of 8 % over the four days before the Easter weekend , while for the S & P it was the best since 1974 - up 12 % .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ten American workers filed for jobless benefits in the last three weeks - and the IMF warning of the worst global downturn since the 1930s due to the impact of the pandemic .
Instead , investors turned their focus to a $ 2.3trn programme announced by the US Federal Reserve to offer struggling companies and local governments four-year loans .
In Britain , the Bank of England agreed to allow the Treasury a bigger overdraft to ensure it has enough cash to cope with the devastating impact of the coronavirus lockdown .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government showed 1.2 million people applying for universal credit in the last three weeks - while one forecast suggested UK GDP could shrink by as much as 25 % in the second quarter .
Oil markets were also in focus as producer nations hammered out a deal to slash output in response to a steep fall in demand - after a protracted squabble between Saudi Arabia and Russia had put an agreement on hold .
That helped lift the price of Brent crude as much as 10 % higher before giving up its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not go far enough .
In Washington , the head of the International Monetary Fund said the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world would turn global economic growth `` sharply negative '' in 2020 , triggering the worst fall-out since the Great Depression - and only a partial recovery in 2021 .
IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva noted that while governments had already undertaken fiscal stimulus measures of $ 8trn , more was likely to be needed .
Fears about the economic impact of the crisis have battered global share values , sending Wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from mid-February to late March .
In the last few weeks though , promises of help from central banks and governments around the world have started to lift sentiment , sending the market back up more than 20 % .
Some investors have even begun to look ahead to the prospect of lockdowns being lifted and hopes that the number of cases may be about the peak in many of the worst hit parts of the world .
However , many remain sceptical given the continued uncertainty .
Quincy Krosby , chief market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` You typically have very strong rebounds , even in a bear market .
`` The question is whether or not we see selling into this rebound , or can we continue to build on it ? ''
Michael Hewson , analyst at CMC Markets , said : `` All of this extra stimulus has helped overshadow the fact that there is little likelihood in the short term that the current lockdown measures will be lifted . ''

Stock markets have rallied despite latest evidence of the catastrophic impact coronavirus is having on the global economy - as central banks stepped in with more help.
London's FTSE 100 closed 165 points, or nearly 3%, higher while on Wall Street the S&P 500 closed up 1.4%.
For the FTSE, it was the best week since 2009, with an upturn of 8% over the four days before the Easter weekend, while for the S&P it was the best since 1974 - up 12%.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:41 A worse financial crash than 2008?
That was despite figures showing one in ten American workers filed for jobless benefits in the last three weeks - and the IMF warning of the worst global downturn since the 1930s due to the impact of the pandemic.
Instead, investors turned their focus to a $2.3trn programme announced by the US Federal Reserve to offer struggling companies and local governments four-year loans.
In Britain, the Bank of England agreed to allow the Treasury a bigger overdraft to ensure it has enough cash to cope with the devastating impact of the coronavirus lockdown.
That impact became clearer as figures from the government showed 1.2 million people applying for universal credit in the last three weeks - while one forecast suggested UK GDP could shrink by as much as 25% in the second quarter.
Oil markets were also in focus as producer nations hammered out a deal to slash output in response to a steep fall in demand - after a protracted squabble between Saudi Arabia and Russia had put an agreement on hold.
That helped lift the price of Brent crude as much as 10% higher before giving up its gains on fears that the deal would not go far enough.
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In Washington, the head of the International Monetary Fund said the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world would turn global economic growth "sharply negative" in 2020, triggering the worst fall-out since the Great Depression - and only a partial recovery in 2021.
IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva noted that while governments had already undertaken fiscal stimulus measures of $8trn, more was likely to be needed.
Fears about the economic impact of the crisis have battered global share values, sending Wall Street stocks down by about a third from mid-February to late March.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
In the last few weeks though, promises of help from central banks and governments around the world have started to lift sentiment, sending the market back up more than 20%.
Some investors have even begun to look ahead to the prospect of lockdowns being lifted and hopes that the number of cases may be about the peak in many of the worst hit parts of the world.
However, many remain sceptical given the continued uncertainty.
Quincy Krosby, chief market strategist at Prudential Financial, said: "You typically have very strong rebounds, even in a bear market.
"The question is whether or not we see selling into this rebound, or can we continue to build on it?"
Michael Hewson, analyst at CMC Markets, said: "All of this extra stimulus has helped overshadow the fact that there is little likelihood in the short term that the current lockdown measures will be lifted."


news--2020-04-09--'Enhance or change': Coronavirus lockdown review looms

Senior ministers will decide whether to `` enhance or change '' UK lockdown rules at an emergency summit next week , one of them has told Sky News .
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said Britons had to `` stick to the path that we ’ ve chosen '' and stay at home over the Easter weekend until the review .
He confirmed a crunch meeting this afternoon will `` determine the process '' for how the COVID-19 lockdown extension decision will be taken while Prime Minister Boris Johnson is still in intensive care .
Later on Thursday , the prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` This Easter , do n't go and see your grandad .
`` Instead keep in touch via video call or over the phone . ''
Wales has already declared the measures there will last longer than the three week period initially ordered by the UK government , which is due to expire on Monday .
Now Scotland looks set to follow suit , with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon saying she agrees with the move .
“ I don ’ t think there is any possibility , any likelihood of these lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she told Kay Burley @ Breakfast .
“ We don ’ t yet really have enough data from what has happened so far to know for sure the impact they ’ re having .
“ None of us want these measures to be in place for a single minute longer than they have to be but it ’ s really important that we stick with it.
” Jason Leitch , the Scottish government ’ s national clinical director , suggested the same , telling All Out Politics “ for sure ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .
“ I ca n't give you a date , but I can tell you it 's a long haul and it wo n't stop suddenly .
Just as we had a curve on the way in , we 'll have a curve on the way out . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Hopes of an end to the shutdown of pubs , restaurants , shops and other businesses were all but dashed on Wednesday by Chancellor Rishi Sunak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called on the government to set out what its strategy for exiting the lockdown is .
`` I 'm not calling for precise timings , but the strategy .
This is incredibly difficult on people and we need to know that plans are in place , and what they are , '' he said .
Government medical and scientific advisers are still unsure when there will be a peak in the number of people falling ill with the coronavirus , and in the number of fatalities .
With the Easter weekend looming - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Saturday - experts are concerned that failing to maintain instructions to stay at home could prove catastrophic .
It was confirmed on Wednesday that another 938 COVID-19 patients have died in UK hospitals , taking the total to 7,097 .
Mr Johnson has now spent a fourth night in hospital , the latest update from Downing Street issued just before 7pm on Wednesday saying : `` The prime minister continues to make steady progress .
He remains in intensive care . ''
A few hours earlier , at the latest Downing Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` The latest from the hospital is the prime minister remains in intensive care where his condition is improving .
`` I can also tell you that he has been sitting up in bed and engaging positively with the clinical team . ''
At the news conference , the government 's deputy chief scientific adviser Angela Maclean hinted that schools could reopen before the lockdown restrictions are eased .
Asked about schools reopening before the summer , she said : `` There is very interesting work into all sorts of different things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage . ''
When the prime minister announced the lockdown in his televised address on 23 March , he told the nation : `` I can assure you that we will keep these restrictions under constant review .
We will look again in three weeks , and relax them if the evidence shows we are able to . ''
This three-week period ends on Easter Monday , and the Coronavirus Act rushed through parliament last month states that the government has until next Thursday to review the lockdown .
Although there will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COBRA meeting , it is expected that Mr Raab will warn the public to prepare for an extension of the lockdown at the Downing Street news conference this afternoon .
Presenting evidence at the COBRA meeting on the effectiveness of the lockdown so far will be England 's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty , and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance .
Senior police chiefs will also report on lockdown enforcement and make recommendations on whether any easing of restrictions is possible or - more likely - tougher curbs on movement @ @ @

Senior ministers will decide whether to "enhance or change" UK lockdown rules at an emergency summit next week, one of them has told Sky News.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said Britons had to "stick to the path that we’ve chosen" and stay at home over the Easter weekend until the review.
He confirmed a crunch meeting this afternoon will "determine the process" for how the COVID-19 lockdown extension decision will be taken while Prime Minister Boris Johnson is still in intensive care.
Image: Quotes from the Queen's address were broadcast to an empty Piccadilly Circus
Later on Thursday, the prime minister's official Twitter account warned Britons: "This Easter, don't go and see your grandad.
"Instead keep in touch via video call or over the phone."
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Wales has already declared the measures there will last longer than the three week period initially ordered by the UK government, which is due to expire on Monday.
Now Scotland looks set to follow suit, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon saying she agrees with the move.
Image: Nicola Sturgeon said the lockdown measures wouldn't be lifted 'imminently'
“I don’t think there is any possibility, any likelihood of these lockdown measures being lifted immediately or even imminently,” she told Kay Burley@Breakfast.
“We don’t yet really have enough data from what has happened so far to know for sure the impact they’re having.
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“None of us want these measures to be in place for a single minute longer than they have to be but it’s really important that we stick with it.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:22 Is the government's lockdown working?
Jason Leitch, the Scottish government’s national clinical director, suggested the same, telling All Out Politics “for sure” the lockdown would continue for another three weeks.
“I can't give you a date, but I can tell you it's a long haul and it won't stop suddenly. Just as we had a curve on the way in, we'll have a curve on the way out."
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Hopes of an end to the shutdown of pubs, restaurants, shops and other businesses were all but dashed on Wednesday by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called on the government to set out what its strategy for exiting the lockdown is.
"I'm not calling for precise timings, but the strategy. This is incredibly difficult on people and we need to know that plans are in place, and what they are," he said.
Government medical and scientific advisers are still unsure when there will be a peak in the number of people falling ill with the coronavirus, and in the number of fatalities.
With the Easter weekend looming - and soaring temperatures forecast for Good Friday and Saturday - experts are concerned that failing to maintain instructions to stay at home could prove catastrophic.
It was confirmed on Wednesday that another 938 COVID-19 patients have died in UK hospitals, taking the total to 7,097.
Mr Johnson has now spent a fourth night in hospital, the latest update from Downing Street issued just before 7pm on Wednesday saying: "The prime minister continues to make steady progress. He remains in intensive care."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:27 'We're making transport safe for key worker heroes'
A few hours earlier, at the latest Downing Street coronavirus news conference, Mr Sunak said: "The latest from the hospital is the prime minister remains in intensive care where his condition is improving.
"I can also tell you that he has been sitting up in bed and engaging positively with the clinical team."
Image: The chancellor did not raise the prospect of pubs and shops closing soon
At the news conference, the government's deputy chief scientific adviser Angela Maclean hinted that schools could reopen before the lockdown restrictions are eased.
Asked about schools reopening before the summer, she said: "There is very interesting work into all sorts of different things that we might do in the next stage."
When the prime minister announced the lockdown in his televised address on 23 March, he told the nation: "I can assure you that we will keep these restrictions under constant review. We will look again in three weeks, and relax them if the evidence shows we are able to."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 10:17 'The government must continue to govern'
This three-week period ends on Easter Monday, and the Coronavirus Act rushed through parliament last month states that the government has until next Thursday to review the lockdown.
Although there will be no formal announcement of a decision after the COBRA meeting, it is expected that Mr Raab will warn the public to prepare for an extension of the lockdown at the Downing Street news conference this afternoon.
Image: The public have been told to stay home to protect lives
Presenting evidence at the COBRA meeting on the effectiveness of the lockdown so far will be England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.
Senior police chiefs will also report on lockdown enforcement and make recommendations on whether any easing of restrictions is possible or - more likely - tougher curbs on movement are needed.


news--2020-04-09--Coronavirus: Boris Johnson moved out of intensive care but remains in hospital

Boris Johnson is out of intensive care and in `` extremely good spirits '' , Downing Street has said .
The prime minister has been in St Thomas ' Hospital in London since Sunday evening , when he was first admitted for tests .
The action was taken because Mr Johnson continued to have persistent coronavirus symptoms , more than a week after testing positive for COVID-19 .
His health deteriorated on Monday afternoon to prompt NHS doctors to move him to an intensive care unit .
But Mr Johnson 's condition has now improved to the extent he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he remains in hospital , Downing Street said on Thursday evening .
A Number 10 spokesman said : `` The prime minister has been moved this evening from intensive care back to the ward , where he will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery .
`` He is in extremely good spirits . ''
Mr Johnson has stopped working and asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputise for him while he remains in hospital .
Speaking at the daily Downing Street coronavirus briefing earlier on Thursday , during which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the Easter weekend , Mr Raab said the prime minister `` continues to make positive steps forwards '' .
Mr Raab also revealed he has not yet spoken to Mr Johnson since taking over his responsibilities .
: : Listen to the All Out Politics podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Downing Street said on Thursday morning the prime minister `` continues to improve '' and had a `` good night '' at St Thomas ' Hospital - the fourth he has spent there .
Mr Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , when he appeared on the doorstep of 11 Downing Street to join in with applause for NHS workers .
Mr Johnson 's pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds revealed at the weekend she is `` on the mend '' after suffering coronavirus symptoms herself .
Ms Symonds posted her own tribute to NHS workers on Thursday evening , soon after it was revealed Mr Johnson had been moved from intensive care .

Boris Johnson is out of intensive care and in "extremely good spirits", Downing Street has said.
The prime minister has been in St Thomas' Hospital in London since Sunday evening, when he was first admitted for tests.
The action was taken because Mr Johnson continued to have persistent coronavirus symptoms, more than a week after testing positive for COVID-19.
His health deteriorated on Monday afternoon to prompt NHS doctors to move him to an intensive care unit.
But Mr Johnson's condition has now improved to the extent he is no longer receiving critical care - although he remains in hospital, Downing Street said on Thursday evening.
A Number 10 spokesman said: "The prime minister has been moved this evening from intensive care back to the ward, where he will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery.
"He is in extremely good spirits."
Mr Johnson has stopped working and asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputise for him while he remains in hospital.
Speaking at the daily Downing Street coronavirus briefing earlier on Thursday, during which he urged Britons to stay at home over the Easter weekend, Mr Raab said the prime minister "continues to make positive steps forwards".
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Mr Raab also revealed he has not yet spoken to Mr Johnson since taking over his responsibilities.
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:: Listen to the All Out Politics podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Downing Street said on Thursday morning the prime minister "continues to improve" and had a "good night" at St Thomas' Hospital - the fourth he has spent there.
The prime minister was receiving "standard oxygen treatment", Number 10 added.
Mr Johnson was last seen in public a week ago, when he appeared on the doorstep of 11 Downing Street to join in with applause for NHS workers.
Mr Raab took part in Thursday night's applause.
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Mr Johnson's pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds revealed at the weekend she is "on the mend" after suffering coronavirus symptoms herself.
Ms Symonds posted her own tribute to NHS workers on Thursday evening, soon after it was revealed Mr Johnson had been moved from intensive care.