The LABI Advisory Council has decreed the end of the health emergency in Euskadi and, therefore, lift most restrictive measures that remain in force to curb the covid-19 pandemic.

However, the Lehendakari, Iñigo Urkullu, has warned that the pandemic is not over and that the main threats are still there: the mutation capacity of the virus, the vaccination deficit in many countries of the world and the uncertainty about the persistence of immunity.

In his appearance after the last LABI meeting, the Lehendakari has been accompanied by all its members, both technical and political leaders, whom he has thanked for their work.

Urkullu has indicated that the objectives set out in the New Life Plan IV, which provides for the deactivation of the main restrictions, and has stated that the key to the downward trend in accumulated incidence has been the vaccine against covid-19.

“The scientific evidence and objective data are overwhelming. The vaccine has been the best tool to defeat the virus. I call for the completion of the vaccination process. Everyone should be able to get vaccinated and whoever has the opportunity should do so,” he said. .

However, the Lehendakari has also asked for prudence and has called for continuing to act responsibly.

“We cannot consider this health crisis completely over. We must not lower our guard. It is still necessary to maintain an attitude of prevention, because it may be necessary to adopt preventive measures again, “he insisted.

In this sense, Urkullu has declared that the health authorities of the Basque Government will continue to evaluate the health situation “day to day”.

Pandemic management

On the other hand, the Lehendakari has defended the management of the Basque Government in the face of the pandemic and highlighted that they have acted with “transparency” and that they have offered “all explanations”.

Urkullu has affirmed that the Basque response to the pandemic is comparable to that of the countries “most advanced in the world” and he has cited that “the vast majority of society has acted with responsibility and commitment” and that the Basque Country is “in the leading group” in vaccination.

He has also ensured that in the Basque Autonomous Community there have been “more test” that in other communities, there have been “fewer people hospitalized and admitted to the ICU” and the increase in deaths in the covid period “has been lower” than the environment.

In addition, the Lehendakari has stated that “less restrictive measures” in culture (open from June 1), hospitality (with 34 days of closure), commerce (open since the confinement was lifted) and education (with 99% of the classrooms with face-to-face 5,147 million extraordinary euros to the affected sectors.