Spain extends lockdown till May 9

Spain will prolong its five week-long coronavirus lockdown until next month at least, and has warned that May will be just the beginning of a slow transition to life after quarantine.

In a televised address, Pedro Sánchez, prime minister, said he would ask parliament for a two week extension of the state of alert — the extraordinary legal order underpinning the lockdown.

But he added that his government planned a slight relaxation of the regime — one of the toughest in the world — to allow children out of their homes before the end of this month.

At present, the state of alert, which gives the government sweeping powers, is due to expire on April 26; a two-week extension will take it to May 9 at least.

“In the month of May we will begin taking the first steps towards a new normality,” Mr Sánchez said, while cautioning that the transition towards post-lockdown life would be slow and step by step.

Relieved Spanish parents welcomed on Wednesday a decision allowing children out on short walks for the first time in more than a month as the government voted to extend Spain's lockdown until May 9.

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