Madrid residents fear full localised lockdowns as virus cases surge

James Badcock

MADRID residents were alarmed yesterday after the announcement of new coronavirus restrictions that could include the return of total lockdown in some areas.

Deputy health minister Antonio Zapatero said zones with the “highest incidence” of the virus would go back into lockdown by the weekend, including restrictions on mobility.

“We must act as quickly as possible,” Mr Zapatero said. Spain had one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe and today hospitals in Madrid are once again under intense pressure from a second wave of the virus.

However, there were signs of a backtrack immediately after the announcement as sources from the administration briefed local media organisations to deny any decision had been taken.

The press conference after the regional government’s cabinet meeting was cancelled at the last minute.

“This is a decision that is going to affect daily lives,” said Ángel

Gabilondo, leader of the socialist oppo- sition party in Madrid. “We need more information.”

Health sector organisations have pointed to growing pressure on intensive care units, where Covid patients are taking up 90 per cent of capacity.

According to Tuesday’s health ministry figures, Madrid had reported 115 of 303 deaths nationwide over the past week, with a positivity rate from testing higher than any other Spanish region on 21.4 per cent.

Salvador Illa, the minister, said yesterday he was “worried” about the situation in Madrid.

Among the worst hit regions in the Spanish capital is Usera, with transmission standing at 1,155 positive cases per 100,000 over the past 14 days, almost double the Madrid average and close to five times the average figure for all Spain.

Isabel Díaz Ayuso, Madrid’s president, caused controversy when she blamed “the lifestyle of immigrants” in southern Madrid neighbourhoods like Usera – before later explaining that she merely meant that migrant families often live cheek by jowl in small flats.

In Usera, Pepe was busy serving lunches at Bar Mariblanca, but he didn’t know how much longer he would be in business. “We survived the three-month closure thanks to a loan from the [state-owned bank] ICO, and have been running at 50 per cent capacity since. Now they say we are going to be shut down again. Who knows if we will get through this time,” he said.

David Castillo, 34, an unemployed man from Madrid, said he feared another lockdown that would see him trapped inside his house. “I would be very upset, and also very indignant at people’s lack of responsibility, which is making things get worse,” he said of a possible return to confinement.