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COVID-19

Coronavirus: What restrictions are there on daily life in Spain?

Authorities in Madrid, the Basque Country and La Rioja – the regions of Spain with the most confirmed coronavirus cases – have ordered all schools, daycare centres and universities to close for two weeks.

Published: 9 March 2020 22:13 CET
Updated: 10 March 2020 16:35 CET
Coronavirus: What restrictions are there on daily life in Spain?
Photo: AFP

On Tuesday, Spain unveiled drastic new measures to attempt to contain the coronavirus after the number of cases more than doubled within 24 hours.

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The number of cases recorded in Spain has surged since the weekend with more than 1,600 individuals testing positive across Spain.

At least 100 cases are considered “serious” and are being treated in intensive care units and 35 people have already died from the disease.

While authorities in Madrid, the Basque Country and La Rioja took decisions to close schools, colleges and universities as well as day care centres for the young and elderly, the government took the decision to suspend flights between Spain and Italy and to cancel sporting events where large crowds were expected.  

Up until now, authorities had insisted that closing the schools and keeping children at home could be counterproductive.

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Schools in Madrid will be closed from Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Fernando Simón, the director of the Health Ministry’s Coordination Center for Health Emergencies, who leads the twice daily press conferences has argued that closing schools could see children placed in the care of older grandparents who represent the most vulnerable group when it comes to the coronavirus.

However, Health Minister Salvador Illa said the time had come to order the closures.

“The measures that we have adopted in the educational area seem effective to us to avoid transmission and contagion, in line with those taken by our European counterparts,” Illa said.

The government also ordered the cancellation of events likely to draw crowds over 1,000 people in the hotspot areas of Madrid, Vitoria and Labastida, just 48 hours after the capital saw huge congregations gather on the streets to march for Women’s Day.

Numerous sporting events have been either cancelled or will be played behind close doors during the next few weeks.

Spain's La Liga confirmed on Tuesday that first and second division football matches will be staged behind closed doors for at least two weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The measures follow the decision of the Spanish High Council of Sports that all sporting events in Spain at state and international level should be played without fans to limit the spread of the virus.

“According to information from the High Sports Council (CSD), La Liga Santander and La Liga SmartBank matches will be played behind closed doors from today and for at least the next two weeks,” a La Liga statement read.

“La Liga will remain in permanent contact with the Ministry of Health and the CSD to meet their recommendations and/or decisions, and put first the health of fans, players, club employees and journalists during the health
crisis of COVID-19.”

Authorities have cancelled a programme of trips organised for the elderly under the Imserso programme (the institute for Elderly and Social Services)

“Travel must be avoided whenever possible,” explained Illa.

Flights between Italy and Spain have been suspended from midnight tonight until at least March 25.

Illa also recommended companies to insist on working from home (teletrabajo) where possible and to avoid meetings.

Elderly day care centres in the capital have been closed since last Friday and visitors at residential homes for the elderly limited in an attempt to stop the virus from spreading.

The number of cases recorded in Spain has surged since the weekend with more than 1,600 individuals testing positive across Spain.

At least 100 cases are considered “serious” and are being treated in intensive care units and 35 people have already died from the disease.

Madrid regional authorities have issued orders to disinfect all public transport on a daily basis in the hope of limiting the contagion, while supermarkets have been selling out of staples as people stockpile for fear of being confined to their homes.


Empty shelves in a supermarket in the capital as panic buying sets in. Photo. AFP

Coronavirus hotlines have been set up in each region across Spain to relieve pressure on the 112 health emergency number, (apart from Asturias, Extremadura and Melilla which have yet to set up a dedicated number).

If you think you have symptoms of the coronavirus and have serious reason to believe that you may be infected, then do not go to the hospital or local health clinic but instead isolate yourself at home and then call your regional hotline which can be found here.

Pedro Sanchéz, the Spanish prime minister, said on Monday that he would unveil a “shock therapy” plan to combat the spread of coronavirus.

“We will announce a shock therapy plan in a few days as soon as we determine the exact diagnosis and fine tune the measures,” he said. “We want the plan to be effective and proportional to the scale of the problem.” 
 
Nadia Calvino, the economy minister, said the government was taking action to avoid the outbreak doing more damage to the worst hit industries like tourism. 
 
She said the plan would be temporary and limited.
 
On Tuesday the far-right party Vox confirmed that it's secretary general, Javier Ortega Smith had tested positive to the virus and ordered all its parliamentarians to work from home. 
 

All 30 who have died from the virus were over 69 years old, with many living in nursing homes.

The first person to die from the virus was a 69-year-old man from Valencia who had recently travelled to Nepal. It was first thought that he died from pneunomia but tests later proved the cause was the virus.

The Spanish stock exchange fell 7 per cent today after trading started, the worst collapse since the Iraq War in 2003.

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HEALTH

‘Tripledemic’ in Spain: Which regions have made masks mandatory in hospitals?

With Covid, flu and bronchitis cases overwhelming hospital staff, Spain's health ministry is considering bringing back compulsory mask usage in medical facilities. However, some regions have already decided to make them mandatory.

Published: 8 January 2024 17:24 CET
'Tripledemic' in Spain: Which regions have made masks mandatory in hospitals?

It’s all felt a bit déjà vu in Spain in recent days. Respiratory infections on the up, worries about hospitals being overwhelmed, regional governments clashing with central government about the best way to approach things, and, of course, the return of face masks.

The Health Ministry, headed by Mónica García, called an extraordinary meeting of Spain’s Interterritorial Council of the National Health System (CISNS) in order to “unify the criteria” against the surge in respiratory illnesses over the winter, namely the ‘tripledemic’ threat of influenza, Covid-19 and bronchiolitis as it’s been dubbed in the Spanish and international press.

Although Spain’s Ministry of Health and regional governments failed to come to a nationwide agreement with regards to the mandatory use of masks in hospitals, health centres and pharmacies throughout the country, some regions have already made mascarillas mandatory.

Self-assessed health leave

The government is also considering the possibility of allowing three-day leave for people who have a mild illness that doesn’t require medical attention in order to ease pressure on the health system.

“We are studying self-justifying mild illnesses during the first three days,” García said in an interview with Onda Cero, indicating that this self-assessment process, referred to as ‘autobaja‘ in Spanish, would be for people that “do not need to go to the doctor.”

But what about masks? With no agreement between the government and regions yet, where do you need to wear one?

Mandatory masks

Valencia

The Valencian Ministry of Health has made masks mandatory in all health centres for symptomatic people when they are in shared spaces, including waiting rooms and consultations.

Catalonia

Masks are also mandatory in all health centres in Catalonia, though, as of Monday afternoon, it has not yet been confirmed if pharmacies are included.

Murcia

Murcia too has made face masks mandatory in hospitals and health centres and recommended their use in “in any space, when there are symptoms of respiratory disease.”

Health authorities in the southern region have been offering free masks since December 30th in hospitals.

Canary Islands

The mask mandate will enter into force tomorrow, Tuesday 9th, although like in Murcia their use has been recommended since December.

Aragón

In Aragón, masks are mandatory for all healthcare workers and personnel who work in health centres and hospitals, including social health centres. The mandate has also been extended to patients, but only those in waiting rooms.

Asturias

Face masks will be mandatory in Asturias from Tuesday 9th, in both hospitals and pharmacies.

Non-mandatory but recommended

The rest of the Spanish regions have yet to make masks mandatory in hospitals and health centres, but recommend their use, including:

Balearic Islands

The Balearic Government does however recommend using a mask if you have symptoms, as well as frequent hand washing and covering your mouth when sneezing.

Castilla and León

The Ministry of Health in Castilla y León has recommended masks for people who suspect that they may be ill or have a respiratory infection.

Basque Country

The Basque Department of Health also recommends masks for people with symptoms of respiratory illness, but has not made them obligatory.

Andalusia

The Andalusian Health Service (SAS) recommends masks for people with symptoms, previous health problems, when with vulnerable people or at hospitals or health centres, but has so far ruled out making them mandatory.

Madrid

The Madrid regional government has taken the most nakedly political approach and accused the Ministry of Health of a “lack of planning” and ruled out mask mandates.

Castilla-La Mancha

In Castilla La Mancha, mask use is recommended but not obligatory.

Cantabria

Similarly, in Cantabria masks are not mandatory but recommended.

Navarra

Navarra’s Ministry of Health claims that mask mandates in hospitals and health centres would require “a regulatory adjustment” that would have to be analysed “in depth.”

Masks are therefore recommended but not mandatory for now.

Galicia

In Galicia, masks are recommended in hospitals and other health centres but not mandatory.

La Rioja

Maks in hospitals are only recommended, not obligatory.

Extremadura 

Masks are recommended but not mandatory.

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