THE WORLD Health Organisation has praised Spain for its 'swift control' of new outbreaks, acting quickly to isolate and test and, if necessary, impose movement restrictions, whilst British broadsheet The Guardian has described the 'exemplary' way Spaniards behaved during lockdown and are continuing to act now 'New Normality' has been declared.
Although the European continent is still notifying an average of 700 deaths a day and around 20,000 new cases of Covid-19, Spain is handling it exceptionally well, says the WHO's regional manager Hans Kluge.
On Twitter, he wrote: “Staggering progress in Spanish Covid response guided by health minister Salvador Illa – 1% positivity rate, 60% of new patients through contact-tracing, testing capacity increased. Vigilance towards mini-outbreaks in the new reality. Full support by WHO Europe,” and includes emojis of clapping hands.
Germany, one of Spain's main summer tourism output countries, is managing further outbreaks similarly well, as are Poland and Israel, says Kluge.
Most of these have been associated with the reopening of schools, factories and coal mines, he explains.
Kluge, additionally, praises the 'change in people's behaviour', in terms of adhering to social distancing rules and use of masks in public.
“Bravo, people!” He tweets.
His view are supported by Guardian writer Giles Tremlett, who lives in Madrid and has experienced Spanish lockdown first-hand.
In an article titled 'Spain squashed Coronavirus', Tremlett raises concerns that British tourists will 'undo all that hard work', given that they are now permitted entry to the country but that many UK residents have heavily criticised their public for ignoring and flouting the safety measures – such as huge crowds on the beaches in Southend and Bournemouth, and unmasked crowds drinking to celebrate Liverpool's Champions' League win.
Tremlett echoes president Pedro Sánchez's argument that 'Spain had Europe's strictest Coronavirus lockdown', referring to 'children housebound for weeks and Army patrols to enforce it', which has 'produced a dramatic tail-off' and led to the country's mortality rate 'returning to normal' on May 10.
“It's important to acknowledge that Spanish success is the result of an exhausting exercise in nationwide solidarity among 47 million people,” Tremlett says.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com