Catalonia lockdown

Spain’s Catalonia region has locked down a county of more than 400,000 people following a surge in coronavirus cases – just as English people prepare to go there on holiday.

The western Catalan city of Lleida and the rest of Segrià county was put under lockdown from midday yesterday.

Catalonia’s regional president Quim Torra said: “We have decided to confine the Segrià zone following data that confirms a sharp rise in Covid-19 infections.

“We are taking a step back to protect ourselves and control the outbreak,” said Torra, describing it as a “difficult decision”.