By , MADRID (Reuters) - Spain let some businesses get back to work on Monday, but one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe remained in place despite a slowing in the country’s coronavirus death rate.Police handed out face masks to people passing through major transport hubs as they went to work, although only a few commuters were seen using Madrid’s usually bustling Atocha train station and road traffic was mainly public buses.Although some activities, including construction and manufacturing, were allowed to restart, Health Minister Salvador Illa said that Spain remained in lockdown....…By , MADRID (Reuters) - Spain let some businesses get back to work on Monday, but one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe remained in place despite a slowing in the country’s coronavirus death rate.Police handed out face masks to people passing through major transport hubs as they went to work, although only a few commuters were seen using Madrid’s usually bustling Atocha train station and road traffic was mainly public buses.Although some activities, including construction and manufacturing, were allowed to restart, Health Minister Salvador Illa said that Spain remained in lockdown....WW…

By , MADRID (Reuters) - Spain’s government on Saturday set out guidelines for people returning to work under a loosening of lockdown restrictions, while the country reported its lowest one-day increase in deaths from the coronavirus since March 23.Most Spaniards have been confined to their homes since mid-March with only businesses in sectors deemed strategically important allowed to operate normally.However, from Monday, some other industries such as construction and manufacturing will be allowed to restart, enabling thousands to return to work.Under guidelines issued by the prime...…By , MADRID (Reuters) - Spain’s government on Saturday set out guidelines for people returning to work under a loosening of lockdown restrictions, while the country reported its lowest one-day increase in deaths from the coronavirus since March 23.Most Spaniards have been confined to their homes since mid-March with only businesses in sectors deemed strategically important allowed to operate normally.However, from Monday, some other industries such as construction and manufacturing will be allowed to restart, enabling thousands to return to work.Under guidelines issued by the prime...WW…

By , PARIS/MADRID (Reuters) - Europe faces a lengthy battle against the coronavirus at least until mid-2021, France warned on Friday, as anxious governments introduced ever more restrictions to curb the disease once again accelerating through the continent.Europe’s daily infections have more than doubled in the last 10 days, reaching a total of 7.8 million cases and about 247,000 deaths, as a second wave right before winter has crushed economic revival hopes.“When I listen to scientists I see that projections are for at best until next summer,” French President Emmanuel Macron said during a...…By , PARIS/MADRID (Reuters) - Europe faces a lengthy battle against the coronavirus at least until mid-2021, France warned on Friday, as anxious governments introduced ever more restrictions to curb the disease once again accelerating through the continent.Europe’s daily infections have more than doubled in the last 10 days, reaching a total of 7.8 million cases and about 247,000 deaths, as a second wave right before winter has crushed economic revival hopes.“When I listen to scientists I see that projections are for at best until next summer,” French President Emmanuel Macron said during a...WW…

By , MADRID (Reuters) - At least three people died and eleven were injured on Wednesday afternoon when a building in central Madrid was blown apart by an explosion, with four of the wounded requiring hospitalisation.All available evidence pointed to the blast in Calle Toledo, a street leading out from the city centre, being caused by a gas leak, Madrid’s Emergency Services said, although the factors which triggered the leak were yet to be determined.“It was completely nerve-wracking ... I heard and felt the explosion but didn’t know where it came from,” said local Isabel Romero, whose...…By , MADRID (Reuters) - At least three people died and eleven were injured on Wednesday afternoon when a building in central Madrid was blown apart by an explosion, with four of the wounded requiring hospitalisation.All available evidence pointed to the blast in Calle Toledo, a street leading out from the city centre, being caused by a gas leak, Madrid’s Emergency Services said, although the factors which triggered the leak were yet to be determined.“It was completely nerve-wracking ... I heard and felt the explosion but didn’t know where it came from,” said local Isabel Romero, whose...WW…

By , MADRID (Reuters) - Spain’s public prosecutor is investigating more than 200 cases of potential criminal mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic at nursing homes, where the virus spread almost unchecked during the devastating first wave.Angel Juarez, whose 95-year old mother Leonor died from the virus at a Barcelona care home, sued the regional health department for its mismanagement of care homes.“It’s not about political beliefs, everything failed. It is a matter of justice, they died an undignified death,” he said.“We want to shine a light on the negligence and clarify who was...…By , MADRID (Reuters) - Spain’s public prosecutor is investigating more than 200 cases of potential criminal mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic at nursing homes, where the virus spread almost unchecked during the devastating first wave.Angel Juarez, whose 95-year old mother Leonor died from the virus at a Barcelona care home, sued the regional health department for its mismanagement of care homes.“It’s not about political beliefs, everything failed. It is a matter of justice, they died an undignified death,” he said.“We want to shine a light on the negligence and clarify who was...WW…

By , MADRID (Reuters) - At least three people died and eleven were injured on Wednesday afternoon when a building in central Madrid was blown apart by an explosion, with four of the wounded requiring hospitalisation.All available evidence pointed to the blast in Calle Toledo, a street leading out from the city centre, being caused by a gas leak, Madrid’s Emergency Services said, although the factors which triggered the leak were yet to be determined.“It was completely nerve-wracking ... I heard and felt the explosion but didn’t know where it came from,” said local Isabel Romero, whose...…By , MADRID (Reuters) - At least three people died and eleven were injured on Wednesday afternoon when a building in central Madrid was blown apart by an explosion, with four of the wounded requiring hospitalisation.All available evidence pointed to the blast in Calle Toledo, a street leading out from the city centre, being caused by a gas leak, Madrid’s Emergency Services said, although the factors which triggered the leak were yet to be determined.“It was completely nerve-wracking ... I heard and felt the explosion but didn’t know where it came from,” said local Isabel Romero, whose...WW…

By , MADRID (Reuters) - At least three people died and eleven were injured on Wednesday afternoon when a building in central Madrid was blown apart by an explosion, with four of the wounded requiring hospitalisation.All available evidence pointed to the blast in Calle Toledo, a street leading out from the city centre, being caused by a gas leak, Madrid’s Emergency Services said, although the factors which triggered the leak were yet to be determined.“It was completely nerve-wracking ... I heard and felt the explosion but didn’t know where it came from,” said local Isabel Romero, whose...…By , MADRID (Reuters) - At least three people died and eleven were injured on Wednesday afternoon when a building in central Madrid was blown apart by an explosion, with four of the wounded requiring hospitalisation.All available evidence pointed to the blast in Calle Toledo, a street leading out from the city centre, being caused by a gas leak, Madrid’s Emergency Services said, although the factors which triggered the leak were yet to be determined.“It was completely nerve-wracking ... I heard and felt the explosion but didn’t know where it came from,” said local Isabel Romero, whose...WW…

By (Adds latest COVID data, Canaries travel restrictions)MADRID, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Spain’s coronavirus death toll between March and May was almost 70% higher than the official count at the time, data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) showed on Thursday, prompting the opposition to complain of a government cover-up.Spain was among the worst-hit European countries during the first wave of infections, with Health Ministry data showing fatalities approaching 900 per day by the end of March - the first month when the pandemic claimed lives in Spain.The latest INE statistics showed...…By (Adds latest COVID data, Canaries travel restrictions)MADRID, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Spain’s coronavirus death toll between March and May was almost 70% higher than the official count at the time, data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) showed on Thursday, prompting the opposition to complain of a government cover-up.Spain was among the worst-hit European countries during the first wave of infections, with Health Ministry data showing fatalities approaching 900 per day by the end of March - the first month when the pandemic claimed lives in Spain.The latest INE statistics showed...WW…

By , MADRID (Reuters) - Joggers, cyclists and surfers across Spain hurried out of their homes on Saturday, allowed to exercise outdoors for the first time in seven weeks as the government began easing tough coronavirus restrictions.In Madrid, cyclists and skateboarders streamed along the city’s wide boulevards. Barcelona’s beachside was packed with runners, while surfers and paddle-boarders were out enjoying the waves.“We are reaping the rewards of the sacrifices we have made during these long weeks,” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, but stressed that as the country opens up people will...…By , MADRID (Reuters) - Joggers, cyclists and surfers across Spain hurried out of their homes on Saturday, allowed to exercise outdoors for the first time in seven weeks as the government began easing tough coronavirus restrictions.In Madrid, cyclists and skateboarders streamed along the city’s wide boulevards. Barcelona’s beachside was packed with runners, while surfers and paddle-boarders were out enjoying the waves.“We are reaping the rewards of the sacrifices we have made during these long weeks,” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, but stressed that as the country opens up people will...WW…