Madrid court blocks lockdown
A Madrid court blocked an order to lock down the capital because it impinged on residents’ basic freedoms, throwing into chaos the coronavirus response in Europe’s worst- hit city. Restrictions introduced week banning people from non- essential travel in and out of the capital were ruled to be unlawful invasions of fundamental freedom by the regional supreme court. A rule of six limiting social gatherings and a 50 per cent capacity rule on all public indoor spaces were understood to still be in force, however. In a remarkable turn of events, the judges’ decision left the president of the regional government pleading with Madrid residents not to embark on journeys to mark a threeday holiday weekend, despite the fact her government had opposed the lockdown and challenged it in court.