The Spanish government declared a 10-day official mourning period from Wednesday (May 27) to honour the nearly 30,000 people who died from the coronavirus pandemic in one of the world’s worst-hit countries, government spokeswoman Maria Jesus Montero said on Tuesday (May 26).
During the mourning period, flags will fly at half-mast all over the country’s public buildings and navy ships, she told a news briefing after a cabinet meeting.
The period will end with an official ceremony led by the head of state in remembrance of the 26,834 fatalities recorded in the country. Spain has reported a total of 235,400 confirmed cases of the disease.
Montero also said the Spanish treasury would lend 14 billion euros ($15.36 billion) to the state-run social security to help it face costs related to the coronavirus epidemic.
The loan will help social security to finance additional spending related to the epidemic costs and offset lower contributions from workers who were either furloughed or lost their jobs, Montero said.
In an effort to minimise debt taken on to fight the crisis, Spain will seek the maximum amount in grants from EU coronavirus funds, the government spokeswoman added.
The European Commission will propose on Wednesday its blueprint for the bloc’s budget, including plans for a coronavirus recovery fund.
