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Spanish government tells Madrid region new Covid rules are obligatory Madrid region performs U-turn and says it will obey Covid lockdown rules
(about 2 hours later)
Self-governing region’s insistence that restrictions are not enforceable raises prospect of a legal challenge Self-governing Spanish region warned by central government that new measures are legally binding
The Spanish government has warned the Madrid regional authorities that new measures to halt the spread of Covid-19 are obligatory as political intransigence threatens to undermine efforts to tackle the pandemic in the western European nation hardest hit by the virus. The regional government of Madrid, the area of Spain hardest hit by the second wave of the coronavirus, has said it will obey new lockdown restrictions imposed by the central government, but plans to appeal them in court.
Efforts to tackle the spread of the virus in and around the capital have been hindered by political intransigence as the Madrid region engages in a standoff with the central government.
On Wednesday, 13 of Spain’s 19 self-governing regions backed a plan to impose partial lockdowns on town and cities, allowing people to enter and exit affected areas only on work, school, or medical grounds, or for other pressing reasons.On Wednesday, 13 of Spain’s 19 self-governing regions backed a plan to impose partial lockdowns on town and cities, allowing people to enter and exit affected areas only on work, school, or medical grounds, or for other pressing reasons.
Under the rules, the limited confinements will be imposed on municipalities of 100,000 people or more: if there are more than 500 cases per 100,000 people; if more than 10% of tests during the previous fortnight are positive, and if the proportion of intensive care unit (ICU) beds occupied by Covid patients is 35% or higher.Under the rules, the limited confinements will be imposed on municipalities of 100,000 people or more: if there are more than 500 cases per 100,000 people; if more than 10% of tests during the previous fortnight are positive, and if the proportion of intensive care unit (ICU) beds occupied by Covid patients is 35% or higher.
Spain has recorded 769,188 cases of the virus, of which 235,196 have been detected in the Madrid region.Spain has recorded 769,188 cases of the virus, of which 235,196 have been detected in the Madrid region.
Over the two weeks to 27 September, the city of Madrid logged 777.7 cases per 100,000 people, while the nearby municipalities of Fuenlabrada and Parla respectively logged 1168.3 and 1155.8 cases per 100,000 people.Over the two weeks to 27 September, the city of Madrid logged 777.7 cases per 100,000 people, while the nearby municipalities of Fuenlabrada and Parla respectively logged 1168.3 and 1155.8 cases per 100,000 people.
However, the regional government of Madrid has repeatedly refused the central government’s calls for a lockdown that would affect the capital city and nine municipalities in the region.However, the regional government of Madrid has repeatedly refused the central government’s calls for a lockdown that would affect the capital city and nine municipalities in the region.
The Madrid regional government was one of the five regional administrations that voted against the new restrictions. On Thursday morning, after being warned that the new measures are legally binding and that “compliance is obligatory” within 48 hours, the Madrid regional government performed a U-turn.
The central government says the new measures, passed by a majority, are legally binding and that “compliance is obligatory” within 48 hours. “This government is not in revolt and will strictly obey all the orders,” Madrid’s president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso told the regional parliament.
Speaking on Wednesday evening, the national health minister, Salvador Illa, pointed out that the Madrid region had accounted for 43.7% of all new cases in Spain over the previous 24 hours, and once again urged the regional government to take action before it was too late. But she said her administration would launch a legal challenge “to defend the legitimate interests of the people of Madrid” and to ensure that the measures were fair and objective.
“When you go to the doctor, you hope you’re going to be told the truth,” he said. Hours earlier, the national health minister, Salvador Illa, had pointed out that the Madrid region had accounted for 43.7% of all new cases in Spain over the previous 24 hours, and once again urged the regional government to take action before it was too late.
“As the government of Spain, we have a responsibility for people’s health. The situation in Madrid is complicated and worrying… but the curve can and will be flattened, which is why we’ve collectively arrived at these measures. But we know that very difficult weeks lie ahead and that we’ll all need to be up to the job.” “When you go to the doctor, you hope you’re going to be told the truth,” he said on Wednesday night.
But the regional government would not budge. Its health minister said the situation in the region – where 41.7% of ICU beds are occupied by Covid patients against a national average of 17.9% – was under control. “As the government of Spain, we have a responsibility for people’s health. The situation in Madrid is complicated and worrying … but the curve can and will be flattened, which is why we’ve collectively arrived at these measures. But we know that very difficult weeks lie ahead and that we’ll all need to be up to the job.”
The regional government initially refused to budge. Its health minister said the situation in the region – where 41.7% of ICU beds are occupied by Covid patients against a national average of 17.9% – was under control.
“We have always anticipated the hospital capacity to contain this pandemic, and we’ve had several days on which the balance between discharges and admissions was favorable,” Enrique Ruiz Escudero said at a press conference shortly after Illa’s.“We have always anticipated the hospital capacity to contain this pandemic, and we’ve had several days on which the balance between discharges and admissions was favorable,” Enrique Ruiz Escudero said at a press conference shortly after Illa’s.
He said the rules were not “legally enforceable” – raising the prospect of a judicial challenge – and added that the central government was “in a hurry to lock Madrid down”.He said the rules were not “legally enforceable” – raising the prospect of a judicial challenge – and added that the central government was “in a hurry to lock Madrid down”.
As the second wave continues to batter Madrid, the regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, has placed 45 health zones in the partial lockdown, affecting a little over a million people. But her administration has said a more widespread confinement would inflict further damage on Madrid’s economy. As the second wave continues to batter Madrid, Ayuso has placed 45 health zones in the partial lockdown, affecting a little over a million people. But her administration has said a more widespread confinement would inflict further damage on Madrid’s economy.
Ayuso – one of the most high-profile members of the conservative People’s party and a vociferous critic of Spain’s Socialist-led coalition government – also questioned the need to extend the strict national lockdown in May, saying: “People get run over every day but that doesn’t mean we ban cars.”Ayuso – one of the most high-profile members of the conservative People’s party and a vociferous critic of Spain’s Socialist-led coalition government – also questioned the need to extend the strict national lockdown in May, saying: “People get run over every day but that doesn’t mean we ban cars.”
Spain’s regional governments have once again assumed control of health systems in their areas after the central government restored the powers that were suspended during the countrywide lockdown.Spain’s regional governments have once again assumed control of health systems in their areas after the central government restored the powers that were suspended during the countrywide lockdown.