Spanish PM promises to ease confinement of children

THE 24X7 NEWS

Spanish children have been kept indoors since 14 March, under strict measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Now Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez aims to relax the rule on 27 April so they can "get some fresh air".

Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, who has young children herself, this week pleaded with the government to allow children outside.

Spain has seen more than 20,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic and almost 200,000 reported cases.

In a televised briefing on Saturday evening, Mr Sánchez said Spain had left behind "the most extreme moments and contained the brutal onslaught of the pandemic".

• Coronavirus: Live updates

But he said he would ask parliament to extend Spain's state of alarm to 9 May as the achievements made were "still insufficient and above all fragile" and could not be jeopardised by "hasty decisions".

Another 565 deaths were reported on Saturday, well down from the peak of the pandemic, and the government allowed some non-essential workers to resume construction and manufacturing last Monday.

• Free children from lockdown, says Spanish mayor

However, the main lockdown measures remain in place, with adults only allowed out to visit food shops and pharmacies or work considered essential. Children have been barred from leaving their homes completely.

In other developments:

• Some of the biggest names in music, including Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney and Billie Eilish, have joined forces to celebrate healthcare workers in a globally televised concert
• Donald Trump has chided some Democrat state governors, saying they were getting carried away with imposing too many coronavirus restrictions
• The world's Orthodox Christians are celebrating Easter - the most important festival in their calendar - amid a series of restrictions and bans
• Israel has announced that it will begin a gradual easing of its strict coronavirus lockdown
• Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Muslims are exempted from fasting during the holy month of Ramadan - due to start this week - if they feel it would pose a serious threat to their health

Spain's eight million children have already spent five weeks confined to their homes and there has been growing unease at the risk to their health.

The Spanish Children's Rights Coalition has warned of mental and physical health problems for children as a result of confinement measures and called for boys and girls to be allowed outside to play and do some physical activity.