1,500 new Covid-19 cases, 136 deaths: Spain orders lockdown

Spain’s government is set to impose stringent restrictions on movement and close down restaurants and other establishments as part of its two-week state of emergency in view of the sharp rise in coronavirus cases in the country on Saturday (March 14).

This will come after more than 1,500 new confirmed coronavirus cases were reported in the country between Friday and Saturday, raising its total to 5,753 cases, the second-highest in Europe after Italy. At least 136 people have died so far due to the infection in Spain.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is set to announce a series of measures in this regard in a nationally televised address, reported news agency PTI. He had acknowledged on Friday that the number of infections could reach 10,000 in the coming days.

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According to the draft of the government order, people will only be allowed to leave their homes to buy food and medicine, commute to work, go to medical centers and banks, or take trips related to the care for the young and the elderly. Those limitations will take hold at Monday at 7:00 GMT.

Effectively immediately, Spain will also shut down all restaurants, bars, hotels, education centers nationwide, and other non-essential retail outlets, a move some of the hardest-hit communities have already carried out.

The number of cases in Spain has increased 10 times since Sunday, and bars, restaurants and all sporting and cultural institutions have been shut down.

The Madrid region, which is the country’s worst-hit with nearly 3,000 cases, has ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses.

(With inputs from agencies)

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