Spain goes on lockdown amid virus outbreak
Several European countries closing borders
BARCELONA, Spain – Spain drew up plans to lock down its 46 million citizens, France closed the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, and more borders snapped shut around the world as governments take increasingly sweeping measures to reduce contact among people and contain the spread of the coronavirus.
President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the U.S., which days ago barred entry to travelers from much of Europe, will extend the ban to Britain and Ireland, where cases are on the rise.
China, meanwhile, where the virus first emerged late last year, continued to relax its drastic measures in its hardest-hit region, illustrating the way the center of gravity in the crisis has shifted westward toward Europe.
The virus has infected more than 150,000 people worldwide and killed more than 5,500.
In a nationally televised address, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez detailed the battery of exceptional measures put in place as part of a twoweek state of emergency to fight the sharp rise in infections.
In a lockdown similar to the one already imposed in Italy, 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.
All schools and universities were closed, along with restaurants, bars, hotels and other non-essential retail businesses.
“From now we enter into a new phase,” Sánchez said. “We won’t hesitate in doing what we must to beat the virus. We are putting health first.”
Authorities in Spain said the number of infections climbed past 5,700, half of them in the capital of Madrid. That represents a national increase of more than 1,500 in 24 hours. The country had 136 deaths, up from 120. Spain has the fifth-highest number of cases, behind China, Italy, Iran and South Korea.
“I live in the city center and I like to see it empty,” said Madrid resident Carmen Melon. “I like to see that I think people are being responsible and the people who have to stay at home are doing it. Today I have to work, just one hour, but later I will stay home too.”
The U.S. and other Western countries are moving rapidly to prevent their health systems from collapsing under the caseload.
In Italy, the worst-hit European country, the number of deaths climbed past 1,400 and infections topped 21,000. The government has ordered an unprecedented lockdown, directing businesses to close and restricting people’s movement. Mayors of many cities decided Saturday to close public playgrounds and parks, too.
Poland planned to close its borders at midnight and deny all foreigners entry unless they lived in Poland or had personal ties there. The Czech Republic and Slovakia took similar action. Lithuania said it was introducing border checks at the frontiers with Poland and Latvia for 10 days and was considering banning foreigners from entering.