Historic Madrid flea market reopens
Move part of city’s bid to reinforce normality
MADRID — Madrid’s ancient and emblematic Rastro flea market reopened Sunday after a contentious eight-month closure because of the COVID-19 pandemic that has walloped the Spanish capital.
With many major European flea markets still shut down, the Rastro’s return seems to be another example of Madrid’s bid to show that heavy coronavirus restrictions may not be necessary even amid the latest surge of the virus and some sort of normality can resume with precautions.
That stance has been both criticized and lauded.
After lengthy negotiations, city authorities agreed the Rastro could open at 50 percent capacity, with half its 1,000 stalls alternating each Sunday for a maximum crowd of 2,700 people.
Police with backup drones monitored the market to avoid overcrowding.
Dating to the 1700s, the Rastro sells the usual flea market mix of antiques, clothes, furniture, bric-a-brac and curios in stalls that snake down through a warrenlike district next to Madrid’s majestic Plaza Mayor square.
Long a traditional meeting and drinking place, the bustling Sunday morning market used to attract thousands of tourists and residents alike. If you arrived after 11 a.m., it was almost impossible to move.
Even though not packed, the Rastro’s reappearance is likely to be welcomed, another example of Madrid’s bid to keep things going.
“Here we are, we are in an open space,” said Sara García, a 44-yearold owner of a jewelry stall. “We fully comply with all the rules they told us to follow. We have more security than indoor places, so it is the best place. I say to everyone to come to the Rastro because it is a safe place.”
In other global developments:
■ South Korea is imposing stricter social distancing rules in the greater Seoul area to fight a coronavirus resurgence, as the country registered more than 300 new cases for the fifth straight day.
Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said Sunday that authorities found 62 virus clusters in the past two weeks. He said the toughened guidelines in Seoul will be enforced for two weeks starting Tuesday.
■ Japan’s Health Ministry says the daily tally of confirmed coronavirus cases hit a record for the fourth straight day Sunday, at 2,508. Japan has had fewer than 2,000 coronavirus-related deaths, avoiding the toll of harder-hit nations. But fears are growing of another surge.
■ India registered 45,209 new cases amid a festival season surge in the capital and many other parts of the country. At least three states — Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat — have imposed night curfews in many cities. The Health Ministry on Sunday also registered 501 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking total fatalities up to 133,227.
■ South Australia and Victoria states eased COVID-19 restrictions Sunday as Australia heads into summer in a better position to fight the virus. Victoria, which was hardest hit, has gone 23 days without a new infection.
In response, Premier Daniel Andrews announced a number of changes to restrictions. Mask-wearing outdoors, which until now has been mandatory, is no longer required where social distancing is possible. Masks will still have to be worn indoors and carried at all times.