Catalonia locks down 200,000 over virus outbreak

by Laurence Boutreux in Madrid and Anahi Aradas in Lerida

Spain’s northeastern Catalonia region on Saturday locked down an area with around 200,000 residents following a surge in cases of the new coronavirus.

Catalonia’s regional president Quim Torra told reporters there had been a “sharp rise” in infections in Segria, a zone that includes the town of Lerida some 150 kilometers (90 miles) west of Barcelona.

People would not be allowed to enter or leave the area, gatherings of more than 10 people would be banned and visits to retirement homes halted, officials said.

The restrictions do not apply to seasonal harvest workers, and movement is not restricted within the zone, however.

The move came as the summer holiday started in Spain and the country began re-admitting visitors from 12 countries outside the European Union, two weeks after allowing people from the EU’s visa-free Schengen zone and Britain to return.

“It is a surprise,” said Josep Raluy, a 63-year-old retiree who returned to the area from a second home as a precaution. “It’s another step backwards, it’s not good.”

Spain has been one of the countries worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic with at least 28,385 deaths, Europe’s fourth-highest toll after Britain, Italy and France.

Madrid imposed one of the world’s strictest lockdowns to stop the spread of the virus and only recently began to open up. (AFP)

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