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Spain orders Madrid lockdown amid resurgence of coronavirus cases

A health worker checks the temperature of a man ahead of a test for Covid-19 in Vallecas, Madrid: AP
A health worker checks the temperature of a man ahead of a test for Covid-19 in Vallecas, Madrid: AP

The Spanish government has ordered a lockdown in the capital Madrid and surrounding areas badly affected by Covid-19 following a spike in cases.

Residents will be barred from leaving except on essential trips under the new rules set to come into force in the coming days.

As the the move to introduce new measures on the country’s capital were announced, local authorities complained the decision had no legal basis.

Coronavirus cases in the city have accounted for more than a third of Spain's 133,604 new cases in the past two weeks.

It has 735 cases per 100,000 people, one of the highest of any region in Europe and double Spain's national rate.

"Madrid's health is Spain's health. Madrid is special," Health Minister Salvador Illa told a news conference to the new regulations.

The capital city, with more than 3 million people and nine surrounding municipalities with at least 100,000 inhabitants each, are to see borders closed to outsiders for non-essential visits.

People would be allowed to cross boundaries for work, school, doctors' visits or shopping, but not for leisure.

Other measures include the closure of bars and restaurants at 11pm, from a previous curfew of 1am, as well as shutting parks and playgrounds.

Social gatherings will be limited to six people.

The conservative regional assembly had already enforced localised lockdowns in 45 districts.

But the wider restrictions announced by Illa see the Socialist-led central government override the regional authority after weeks of fighting over what should be done.

"The decision is not valid legally," regional health chief Enrique Ruiz Escudero repeatedly told a news conference of the lockdown plan.

“The Spanish government is in a hurry to intervene in Madrid but not to defeat the virus."

Political polarisation over the pandemic has exasperated people in Spain, which has recorded 769,188 cases - the highest in Western Europe - and 31,791 deaths.

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