MADRID, May 10, 2020, SPA -- Spain registered its lowest daily number of coronavirus deaths since mid-March on Sunday, as half the population prepared for an easing of one of Europe's strictest lockdowns, Reuters reported. Emergency Health Chief Fernando Simon said in a press conference that the daily death toll of 143 down from 179 on Saturday was the lowest since March 18. "We continue with the downward trend reported in recent days," he said. Overall deaths rose to 26,621 from 26,478 on Saturday and the number of diagnosed coronavirus cases rose to 224,390 from 223,578 the day before, the Health Ministry said. Some 51% of the population will progress to Phase 1 of a four-step easing plan on Monday after the government decided the regions in which they lived met the necessary criteria. It will include a considerable easing of measures that will allow gatherings of up to 10 people and let people move around their province. --SPA 16:30 LOCAL TIME 13:30 GMT 0021 www.spa.gov.sa/w1325458