Europe’s worst infection hotspot Madrid heads for lockdown

MADRID - Madrid is to go into lockdown in coming days after the region’s leader reluctantly agreed on Thursday to obey a central government order to ban non-essential travel in the Spanish capital that is Europe’s worst COVID-19 hotspot. The Madrid region has 859 cases per 100,000 people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), during a resurgence of the coronavirus in Spain, which was one of the worst-hit countries during the first wave.

Spain’s Socialist-led government - which puts cases in Madrid at 735 per 100,000 decided late on Wednesday to impose a new lockdown on the city of more than 3 million people. That infuriated the conservative-led local authority worried about the impact on livelihoods in a city famous for its bars, restaurants and bustle of tourists in normal times. But Madrid region chief Isabel Diaz Ayuso told the regional assembly on Thursday she had no choice but to follow the lockdown - even though she would mount a legal challenge. “This region is not in rebellion and will strictly comply with all the orders,” she said.

“But yes, we will go to the courts ... to stand up for the rights of the Madrilenos.” Madrid and nine nearby municipalities will see borders closed to outsiders for nonessential visits, with only travel for work, school, doctors’ visits or shopping allowed. A curfew for bars and restaurants moved to 11 pm from 1 am.

(Reuters)