Spain's leader says 'lockdown continues' but employees allowed to go to workplace

The Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, said on Sunday that "the general lockdown continues" but confirmed that employees will be allowed to go to their workplace as of Monday across Spain.

This comes although the Catalan president, Quim Torra, and several other regional ministers rejected the lift of such measure on workers on Sunday morning.  

In a press conference, Sánchez said that the measures set during the whole state of alarm will continue, meaning that bars, restaurants, retail and all sort of non-essential shops will still be closed and restrictions will still apply.

"The relaxation of lockdown will begin at least in two weeks' time," emphasized the Socialist leader.

Yet, the "hibernation of the economy" is lifted, meaning that the ban on workers providing non-essential services going to their workplace will no longer be in force on Monday at 12 am.

"The general lockdown will be the norm. But the situation will change for the people who resume their activity tomorrow."

He said that the measure was "extreme" and was taken only to use the Easter holidays for a total "hibernation" of the economy. Yet, he made clear the lifting of such decision is in accordance with the government's scientific committee – however the Catalan president, Quim Torra, said he got no response when asked for a scientific paper giving reasons for such determination. 

Sánchez asks for political de-escalation

Talking to the media, Pedro Sánchez also referred to the criticism he has faced during the crisis: "A political de-escalation is fundamental because we need to think about the war, but also the post-war."

Spain's president is asking for a cross-party consensus similar to that of 1977 in order to emerge from dictatorship, that is, a repeat of the Moncloa pacts.

Masks for public transport

This came as Spain's government informed on Sunday afternoon that 1,714,000 masks had arrived in Catalonia in order to be distributed in public transport among people who have to return to work from Tuesday. The distribution will be organized by Spain's interior ministry and Civil Protection authorities.