Spain pays tribute to virus victims, key workers

Relatives of around 100 people who died, representatives of medical personnel, police and other essential workers are joining King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, government authorities and officials from the European Union and the World Health Organization in a solemn ceremony at an esplanade in Madrid's Royal Palace. The guests, masked and seated in a socially distanced fashion surrounding a central cauldron, include representatives from a dozen religious organisations and ambassadors.

Spain is paying homage to the nation's victims of the new coronavirus and workers who put their lives at risk during the worst of the pandemic. Relatives of around 100 people who died, representatives of medical personnel, police and other essential workers are joining King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, government authorities and officials from the European Union and the World Health Organization in a solemn ceremony at an esplanade in Madrid's Royal Palace.

The guests, masked and seated in a socially distanced fashion surrounding a central cauldron, include representatives from a dozen religious organisations and ambassadors. The ceremony is being shown live on television and online. All political parties are attending except the far-right Vox, whose leader has called the event “an exculpatory ceremony” for the left-wing ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Spain has officially recorded 28,413 fatalities among some 258,000 confirmed cases, although excess mortality figures suggest the actual number is thousands higher.(AP) NSA.