Spain records lowest number of coronavirus deaths; daily toll drops to 288

Spain said on Sunday the number of daily coronavirus-related fatalities fell to its lowest level in more than a month, with 288 deaths in the previous 24 hours.

That took total fatalities to 23,190 from 22,902 the day before, the health ministry said.

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The overall number of coronavirus cases rose to 207,634 from 205,905 the day before.

Kids in Spain will get their first fresh air in weeks when a ban on letting them outside is relaxed starting on Sunday. After 44 days indoors, they’ll be allowed out for adult-supervised one-hour excursions no farther than 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from home. They will not be permitted to play with others, and some nervous parents shopped online for child-size masks for them.

A man wearing a face mask is wheeled into La Paz hospital in Madrid. AFP

"I really want to get outside, and Ema does as well,” Madrid resident Eva Novilo said of her 7-year-old daughter. But Novilo predicted "difficult situations” if they see her friends and have to stay apart. "I don’t know if we will be able to maintain control.”

Belgium sketched out plans for a progressive lockdown relaxation starting May 4 with the resumption of nonessential treatment in hospitals and the reopening of textile and sewing shops to make face masks.

In Italy, where restrictions also will be eased May 4, authorities warned against abandoning social distancing practices as millions return to work. Free masks will be distributed to nursing homes, police, public officials and transportation workers. Workers painted blue circles on Rome's subway platforms to remind people to keep their distance when commuters return.

Agencies