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| Coronavirus Spain: Catalonia locks down area of 210,000 people | Coronavirus Spain: Catalonia locks down area of 210,000 people |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The government in Spain's Catalonia region has re-imposed coronavirus controls on an area of 210,000 people after a sharp rise in infections. | The government in Spain's Catalonia region has re-imposed coronavirus controls on an area of 210,000 people after a sharp rise in infections. |
| President Quim Torra said no-one would be allowed to enter or leave Segrià, an agricultural area west of Barcelona which includes the city of Lleida. | President Quim Torra said no-one would be allowed to enter or leave Segrià, an agricultural area west of Barcelona which includes the city of Lleida. |
| The local lockdown began on Saturday afternoon with provisions made to allow non-residents to leave. | The local lockdown began on Saturday afternoon with provisions made to allow non-residents to leave. |
| Catalonia is one of the Spanish regions worst affected by coronavirus. | Catalonia is one of the Spanish regions worst affected by coronavirus. |
| As of Friday, the region of 7.5 million people had recorded 72,860 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 12,586 deaths, the regional government's news agency reports. | As of Friday, the region of 7.5 million people had recorded 72,860 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 12,586 deaths, the regional government's news agency reports. |
| Two more deaths and 400 new cases were reported, with 155 of the new infections detected in Lleida alone. | Two more deaths and 400 new cases were reported, with 155 of the new infections detected in Lleida alone. |
| Overall, Spain has recorded more than a quarter of a million cases and at least 28,385 deaths. | Overall, Spain has recorded more than a quarter of a million cases and at least 28,385 deaths. |
| The country has been reopening its borders to other EU states, as well as the UK, in anticipation of summer holiday traffic. | The country has been reopening its borders to other EU states, as well as the UK, in anticipation of summer holiday traffic. |
| What action is being taken in Segrià? | What action is being taken in Segrià? |
| President Torra took the decision after meeting his ministers and civil defence officials. | President Torra took the decision after meeting his ministers and civil defence officials. |
| "We are taking a step back to protect ourselves and control the outbreak," he said. | "We are taking a step back to protect ourselves and control the outbreak," he said. |
| Non-residents were given until 12:00 (10:00 GMT) on Saturday to leave and residents were advised not to travel between towns within Segrià. | Non-residents were given until 12:00 (10:00 GMT) on Saturday to leave and residents were advised not to travel between towns within Segrià. |
| Absent residents were being allowed to return by 16:00, with exceptions to be allowed, for instance, for people returning from work. | Absent residents were being allowed to return by 16:00, with exceptions to be allowed, for instance, for people returning from work. |
| The lockdown will be enforced using police checkpoints | The lockdown will be enforced using police checkpoints |
| Within the area, gatherings will be limited to 10 people, and special measures are being taken to keep people in care homes safe. | Within the area, gatherings will be limited to 10 people, and special measures are being taken to keep people in care homes safe. |
| A field hospital was set up outside LLeida's Arnau de Vilanova hospital on Friday with capacity to treat up to 105 patients if required. | A field hospital was set up outside LLeida's Arnau de Vilanova hospital on Friday with capacity to treat up to 105 patients if required. |
| Sara Canals, a journalist in the region, told BBC News that, according to recent figures, 21 people were being treated in hospitals and six people were in intensive care units. | Sara Canals, a journalist in the region, told BBC News that, according to recent figures, 21 people were being treated in hospitals and six people were in intensive care units. |
| "Some might consider [this] maybe too drastic," she said, "but there's a willingness here to find a right balance between reopening the economy but also to ensure safety. So the Catalan authorities have decided to lock down the region and see how this new outbreak evolves." | "Some might consider [this] maybe too drastic," she said, "but there's a willingness here to find a right balance between reopening the economy but also to ensure safety. So the Catalan authorities have decided to lock down the region and see how this new outbreak evolves." |
| The Spanish region of Aragon, which borders Lleida, re-imposed restrictions on several areas last month after an outbreak among fruit pickers in its Huesca province. | The Spanish region of Aragon, which borders Lleida, re-imposed restrictions on several areas last month after an outbreak among fruit pickers in its Huesca province. |
| Are you in Segrià? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
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