Outbreaks push Catalonia back into lockdown

SPAIN enforced a lockdown on more than 200,000 people yesterday after several outbreaks of coronavirus in the north-eastern region of Catalonia.

Residents in the province of Segria, which includes the city of Lleida, were ordered not to leave the area from midday but will not have to stay at home as happened when Spain imposed one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe in March.

Spain lifted travel restrictions from abroad on June 21 but only opened its border with Portugal on Friday. The fresh outbreak is unlikely to affect tourists, however.

The province of Segria is not on the usual tourist trail although the Seu Vella cathedral in Lleida is a popular destination.

Data showed there were 3,706 cases in the Lleida region on Friday, up from 3,551 the previous day.

The area is dotted with fruit farms where thousands of seasonal migrant workers seek employment. Amid dozens of small clusters across Spain, those among migrant workers are particularly worrying for health authorities. The lockdown was ordered after nine localised outbreaks were detected, four of which were at fruit farms. In the town of Fraga, where processing plants surround peach orchards, 360 infections have been found in two weeks. Under the lockdown order, residents can go to work but from Tuesday workers entering or leaving the area will have to show a certificate from their employer.

A field hospital has been set up in Lleida to help treat those who have tested positive for coronavirus.

At least 200 police have been deployed to make sure residents comply with the lockdown. Spain has registered 205,545 cases of coronavirus and 28,385 deaths.

Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica reopened on Saturday, giving frontline workers the chance to have the landmark to themselves for the next two weekends in recognition of their efforts during the pandemic.