Spain: growth, speed of virus infections declining

The deputy head of Spain's Centre for Medical Emergencies said Thursday that the rate at which COVID-19 infections are happening is continuing to fall across the country.

Maria Jose Sierra spoke at the Spanish government's daily technical committee briefing.Despite the decrease in infections across Spain the mortality rate was still over 600 people in one day.Sierra also explained that planning for an easing of a tight lockdown across Spain was complicated.

"Nobody in the world has the solution nor the clearest criteria or markers on how to do it," she said. "We are working with experts on this issue and we are working at a European level."

Spain's state of emergency continues until April 26th but is expected to be extended again.Worldwide, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has climbed to nearly 1.5 million, with nearly 90,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The true numbers are likely much higher, because of limited testing, different rules for counting the dead and the efforts of some governments to conceal the extent of their outbreaks.For most, the virus causes mild to moderate symptoms like fever and cough. But for some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause pneumonia. More than 330,000 people have recovered.

(Image Credit: AP)