Date Published: 30/04/2020
ARCHIVED - The economy of Spain shrank by a record 5.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2020
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
Further decreases in GDP are expected due to the coronavirus pandemic
The latest economic data published on Thursday by the Spanish government’s central statistics unit show that the national GDP fell by a record 5.2 per cent in the first quarter of this year, due to the effects of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic which has paralysed much economic activity all over the world.
The previous sharpest drop in economic activity was recorded in 2009, when a fall of 2.6 per cent was recorded in the first quarter, and the most recent figure is comparable only with estimates of the effect of the wars of the mid-20th century might have been. Furthermore, the worst of the economic data is doubtless still to come: the first quarter included only the first two and a half weeks of the lockdown in Spain which has now lasted seven weeks, and it is widely forecast that the unemployment rate will soar back to over 20 per cent.
Much of the drop in the first quarter is attributable to a sharp fall in consumer spending as people began to confine themselves to their homes, and at the same time the latest provisional retail price index data for April show that the inflation rate in Spain has dropped into negative territory for the first time since 2016, reaching -0.7 per cent.
Remember: LOCKDOWN MEANS LOCKDOWN. STAY AT HOME. STAY SAFE AND DO YOUR BIT TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS.
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What to do if you are in the Region of Murcia and believe you may have contracted the virus
The regional government has set up a special helpline to supply information to members of the public (900 121212) if they suspect that they may have contracted the virus rather than going straight to hospital or to a medical centre.
Sensible precautions
The advice being issued to members of the public by medical authorities all over the world coincides on the following points:
- Wash hands frequently with either soap and water or a sanitiser gel
- Catch coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues – and throw the tissues away immediately after use before immediately washing your hands!
- If you don’t have a tissue, use your sleeve – and wash the item of clothing used at the next opportunity
- AVOID touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
- AVOID close contact with people who are unwell
- Don´t panic!