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Spain Imposes Nationwide Lockdown to Fight Coronavirus Spain Imposes Nationwide Lockdown to Fight Coronavirus
(32 minutes later)
MADRID — Faced with rising numbers of coronavirus infections in Spain, the country’s government on Saturday ordered all citizens to stay in their homes other than to buy food, go to work or seek health care, or to assist the elderly and others in need. MADRID — Faced with a sharp rise in coronavirus cases, Spain on Saturday became the second country in Europe to impose sweeping restrictions on the public, telling all citizens to stay indoors, with limited exceptions.
The government said people could leave their homes to buy food, to go to work if they cannot work remotely, or to seek health care, or to assist the elderly and others in need.
The government also ordered all schools, restaurants and bars to close, extending measures that various regional authorities, including in Madrid and in Catalonia, had taken on Friday.The government also ordered all schools, restaurants and bars to close, extending measures that various regional authorities, including in Madrid and in Catalonia, had taken on Friday.
“Spain is demonstrating in these critical hours that it has the capacity to overcome adversity,” Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain said in announcing the new measures, which he described as drastic. “We are facing very difficult weeks of efforts and sacrifices,” he warned. “Some important rights must be limited if we want to beat the virus.”“Spain is demonstrating in these critical hours that it has the capacity to overcome adversity,” Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain said in announcing the new measures, which he described as drastic. “We are facing very difficult weeks of efforts and sacrifices,” he warned. “Some important rights must be limited if we want to beat the virus.”
The final victory over coronavirus, he added, will only come “when we have a vaccine.”The final victory over coronavirus, he added, will only come “when we have a vaccine.”
Mr. Sánchez said the government would take steps to oversee and maintain the nationwide supply of food, energy and other basic services.Mr. Sánchez said the government would take steps to oversee and maintain the nationwide supply of food, energy and other basic services.
Health authorities reported a surge of 2,000 new infections on Saturday, the largest daily increase in Spain since the beginning of the outbreak, suggesting that the country is following a curve similar to that seen earlier in Italy.Health authorities reported a surge of 2,000 new infections on Saturday, the largest daily increase in Spain since the beginning of the outbreak, suggesting that the country is following a curve similar to that seen earlier in Italy.
The death toll in Spain rose to more than 190 on Saturday. Overall, 6,200 people are infected.The death toll in Spain rose to more than 190 on Saturday. Overall, 6,200 people are infected.
On Friday, the prime minister warned that the number of coronavirus cases in Spain could reach 10,000 next week, given how sharply infections have been rising.On Friday, the prime minister warned that the number of coronavirus cases in Spain could reach 10,000 next week, given how sharply infections have been rising.
On the same day, regional officials in Catalonia declared a lockdown, telling all residents to stay at home, and the authorities in the capital, Madrid, ordered all hotels, restaurants and bars to close by Saturday. Stores in Madrid are also closed.On the same day, regional officials in Catalonia declared a lockdown, telling all residents to stay at home, and the authorities in the capital, Madrid, ordered all hotels, restaurants and bars to close by Saturday. Stores in Madrid are also closed.
“We’re the new Italy,” said Francisco Gutierrez, a 33-year-old street cleaner for the city of Madrid. “We don’t know how long it’s going to last, and we don’t know how much Spain will suffer from this yet.”“We’re the new Italy,” said Francisco Gutierrez, a 33-year-old street cleaner for the city of Madrid. “We don’t know how long it’s going to last, and we don’t know how much Spain will suffer from this yet.”
With the Madrid region now the epicenter of Spain’s coronavirus crisis, accounting for more than half of the reported cases, the city has abruptly followed the example of Milan and other Italian cities that were recently put under lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus.With the Madrid region now the epicenter of Spain’s coronavirus crisis, accounting for more than half of the reported cases, the city has abruptly followed the example of Milan and other Italian cities that were recently put under lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Madrid is normally one of Europe’s most bustling cities, with people filling its public parks and squares, or meeting for drinks and tapas in its thousands of bars and cafes.
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Madrid is normally one of Europe’s most bustling cities, with people filling its public parks and squares, or meeting for drinks and tapas in its thousands of bars and cafes.
Yet on Saturday, it resembled a ghost city, as the capital’s 3.5 million residents, who normally spend much of their social life on the streets, started to follow the advice of the authorities to stay at home.Yet on Saturday, it resembled a ghost city, as the capital’s 3.5 million residents, who normally spend much of their social life on the streets, started to follow the advice of the authorities to stay at home.
The train stations and main avenues were almost deserted, while some police cars patrolled the city center. Only stores providing basic services — such as supermarkets and gas stations — were allowed to stay open. People who ventured outside often headed for the supermarkets to buy essential supplies.The train stations and main avenues were almost deserted, while some police cars patrolled the city center. Only stores providing basic services — such as supermarkets and gas stations — were allowed to stay open. People who ventured outside often headed for the supermarkets to buy essential supplies.
Museums and other public venues closed earlier this week. The gates of Madrid’s central park, the Retiro, were closed by the police on Saturday afternoon.Museums and other public venues closed earlier this week. The gates of Madrid’s central park, the Retiro, were closed by the police on Saturday afternoon.
On the arcaded Plaza Mayor, one of the main public spaces in the heart of the city, some tourists took a last walk as they hoped to catch a flight later in the day.On the arcaded Plaza Mayor, one of the main public spaces in the heart of the city, some tourists took a last walk as they hoped to catch a flight later in the day.
“Life here is slowing down by the hour,” said Stéphanie David, a visitor from Belgium.“Life here is slowing down by the hour,” said Stéphanie David, a visitor from Belgium.
Her partner, Paul Malkomes, said: “On Thursday, Madrid was still lively. Now it looks like a ghost town.”Her partner, Paul Malkomes, said: “On Thursday, Madrid was still lively. Now it looks like a ghost town.”
The Spanish government has only once before declared a state of emergency, in 2010, when the Spanish military was ordered to break up a wildcat strike by air traffic controllers that had paralyzed the country’s airports.The Spanish government has only once before declared a state of emergency, in 2010, when the Spanish military was ordered to break up a wildcat strike by air traffic controllers that had paralyzed the country’s airports.
The lockdown of the 7.5 million residents of Spain’s northeastern region on Friday, was announced in Catalonia by Quim Torra, the region’s leader, who asked the central government in Madrid to help suspend travel to and from the region by closing airports and train stations.The lockdown of the 7.5 million residents of Spain’s northeastern region on Friday, was announced in Catalonia by Quim Torra, the region’s leader, who asked the central government in Madrid to help suspend travel to and from the region by closing airports and train stations.
That has not yet happened, and on Saturday trains were still running from the region’s capital, Barcelona, to Madrid.That has not yet happened, and on Saturday trains were still running from the region’s capital, Barcelona, to Madrid.
Mr. Torra said it was necessary to “restrict entrances and departures” from Catalonia, but such a demand could also fuel the debate over the territorial sharing of power in Spain.Mr. Torra said it was necessary to “restrict entrances and departures” from Catalonia, but such a demand could also fuel the debate over the territorial sharing of power in Spain.
On Saturday, the northern Basque region declared its own state of emergency, while the Basque regional leader, Íñigo Urkullu, warned against Madrid taking full control over policies like health care that are now under regional management.On Saturday, the northern Basque region declared its own state of emergency, while the Basque regional leader, Íñigo Urkullu, warned against Madrid taking full control over policies like health care that are now under regional management.
Elsewhere in Spain, the southern city of Seville canceled its Easter celebrations, an event that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.Elsewhere in Spain, the southern city of Seville canceled its Easter celebrations, an event that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
In the southeastern region of Murcia, the regional authorities put almost 400,000 residents of its coastal towns under lockdown, while warning visitors from Madrid and elsewhere to stop heading for the seaside and risk spreading the virus further.
Terminal 1 of Madrid’s airport was also almost empty on Saturday morning.Terminal 1 of Madrid’s airport was also almost empty on Saturday morning.
Among the few tourists, some said that they had scrambled to rebook in order to leave Madrid earlier than scheduled, fearful that a Spanish state of emergency might very soon close down Madrid’s airport altogether, or that their airline would in any case cancel their flight.Among the few tourists, some said that they had scrambled to rebook in order to leave Madrid earlier than scheduled, fearful that a Spanish state of emergency might very soon close down Madrid’s airport altogether, or that their airline would in any case cancel their flight.
Victor Van Leijsen, a student from the Dutch city of Breda, was preparing to depart Madrid for Brussels, alongside his twin brother. The siblings flew to Madrid on Thursday and had planned on spending a long weekend in the Spanish capital.Victor Van Leijsen, a student from the Dutch city of Breda, was preparing to depart Madrid for Brussels, alongside his twin brother. The siblings flew to Madrid on Thursday and had planned on spending a long weekend in the Spanish capital.
“We rebooked early this morning because we were afraid we could perhaps then simply not get back,” Mr. Van Leijsen said. “We really needed a weekend off, but it unfortunately got a little shorter than we planned.”“We rebooked early this morning because we were afraid we could perhaps then simply not get back,” Mr. Van Leijsen said. “We really needed a weekend off, but it unfortunately got a little shorter than we planned.”
Regional authorities in Madrid announced that all businesses would remain closed until March 27, a scenario that echoed what authorities in Italy put in place last weekend.Regional authorities in Madrid announced that all businesses would remain closed until March 27, a scenario that echoed what authorities in Italy put in place last weekend.
Earlier on Saturday, as Madrid residents bought groceries and hurried back home, bracing for more restrictive measures to be announced, the authorities urged people to remain calm, while calling to maintain a one-meter distance in supermarket lines.Earlier on Saturday, as Madrid residents bought groceries and hurried back home, bracing for more restrictive measures to be announced, the authorities urged people to remain calm, while calling to maintain a one-meter distance in supermarket lines.
Yet many said they knew the worst had yet to come.Yet many said they knew the worst had yet to come.
“Nobody wanted to believe that it could happen to us, too,” Amuda Goueli, an Egyptian entrepreneur who lives in Madrid, said while wearing a mask. “But it is now, and we have no idea how far the pandemic will stretch, or what kind of crises it will trigger here and in the rest of the world.”“Nobody wanted to believe that it could happen to us, too,” Amuda Goueli, an Egyptian entrepreneur who lives in Madrid, said while wearing a mask. “But it is now, and we have no idea how far the pandemic will stretch, or what kind of crises it will trigger here and in the rest of the world.”
Mr. Goueli, the co-founder of an online travel agency, said Spaniards, like others in European countries, were not psychologically prepared to face the current scenario because they had not faced such a crisis in a generation.Mr. Goueli, the co-founder of an online travel agency, said Spaniards, like others in European countries, were not psychologically prepared to face the current scenario because they had not faced such a crisis in a generation.
“There has been no war, no widespread illness, and a relative state of well-being despite the economic crisis,” Mr. Goueli said. “So Europeans were just not ready. We don’t know how to react.”“There has been no war, no widespread illness, and a relative state of well-being despite the economic crisis,” Mr. Goueli said. “So Europeans were just not ready. We don’t know how to react.”