Coronavirus: Spain reports no deaths in a 24-hour period from Covid-19 for the first time since March

Spain has reported no official deaths due to Covid-19 in a 24-hour period for the first time since March.

In addition to the “very encouraging” figure, just 71 new infections were recorded over the past 24 hours, said emergency health response chief Fernando Simon.

“We are in a very good place in the evolution of the pandemic,” he told a news conference on Monday. “The statistics are following a trend. They are going in the right direction.”

The country reported its first two deaths on 3 March. At the epidemic's peak on 2 April, Spain recorded 950 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours.

The official death toll now stands at 27,127, with 240,000 confirmed cases. Spain is now the 6th worst-hit country by the novel coronavirus, behind the US, UK, Italy, Brazil and France.

It imposed one of the world’s strictest lockdowns in mid-March, which is now being gradually eased as the medical situation improves.

But the Spanish government has warned the threat is not over and the loosening of restrictions could be reversed if the infection rate rises again.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said last weekend he will be asking parliament for an extension of the government’s special emergency powers for another two weeks.

The emergency powers would allow officials to order people to stay home.

Mr Simon said recent hot spots caused by people holding unauthorised “fiestas” can potentially bring a major new resurgence.

“We are still at risk,” he said. “Any of these outbreaks can mean a new wave of infections. We must remain cautious.”

Reporting by AP