Spain to follow Italy into lockdown as virus cases soar

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JOSEPH WILSON and GEIR MOULSON

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spain was set to follow Italy on Saturday in declaring a nationwide lockdown as European countries took ever more sweeping measures to reduce contact among people and slow the accelerating spread of the coronavirus.

China, meanwhile, where the virus first emerged late last year, continued to relax lockdown measures in its hardest-hit region.

According to a draft of the government order seen by The Associated Press, Spain’s government planned to announce tight restrictions on movement for the nation of 46 million people while declaring a two-week state of emergency. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was due to address the nation in the afternoon.

People will be allowed to leave their homes only to buy food and medicine, commute to work, go to hospitals and banks, or take trips related to the care of the young and the elderly. Those rules will take effect at 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) Monday.



People take a selfie outside the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, March 13, 2020. The basilica closed its doors to visitors and suspend construction from Friday, March 13 to prevent the spread of the new COVID-19 coronavirus. Spain, along with Italy and France, is among the countries worst hit by the virus so far in Europe. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some it can cause more severe illness. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu)


Read more: https://apnews.com/1dde718068517f188b3fa65a7edcbf86

[beachbumbob]

1. not a full fledge lockdown but a start. I don't see any annoucment of closing

all public activites down, tourist destinations??

[Clash City Rocker]

2. My wife's sister is in Spain

They were about to get her out, then an hour ago, it was reported that flights from Spain were turning around. Now reports that Spain is going into lockdown. I don’t know if she can get out now.