Flag Lowered to Half-Staff at Madrid Field Hospital in 'Sign of Mourning'

The Spanish flag was lowered to half-staff outside a convention center in Madrid that’s been turned into Spain’s largest field hospital for use during the country’s fight against the coronavirus.

The Spanish Army said on March 30 that the lowering of the flag was a “sign of mourning for the deceased”.

Conditions at the Ifema field hospital have been criticized by staff working there, El Pais reported on March 31.

The facility is overcrowded, one nurse said, with limited washing and bathroom facilities.

El Pais said around 1,110 patients had been admitted to the Ifema field hospital, and that 424 had recovered. On the night of March 29, it said, 750 patients were there. The space is intended eventually to house 5,500 hospital beds and 500 ICU beds.

Spain recorded 812 deaths from COVID-19 on March 30, bringing the national total past 7,700. A halt to all non-essential activities began in Spain on March 30, and was due to continue until at least April 9. Credit: Spanish Army via Storyful