Excerpt from the article Coronavirus Spain: Catalonia locks down area of 210,000 people | For more information please consult (in English) the following link.
The government in Spain’s Catalonia region has re-imposed coronavirus controls on an area of 210,000 people after a sharp rise in infections.
President Quim Torra said no-one would be allowed to enter or leave Segrià, an agricultural area west of Barcelona which includes the city of Lleida. Two more deaths and 400 new cases were reported, with 155 of the new infections detected in Lleida alone.
Overall, Spain has recorded more than a quarter of a million cases and at least 28,385 deaths.
The country has been reopening its borders to other EU states, as well as the UK, in anticipation of summer holiday traffic.
What action is being taken in Segrià?
President Torra took the decision after meeting his ministers and civil defence officials.
“We are taking a step back to protect ourselves and control the outbreak,” he said. Non-residents were given until 12:00 (10:00 GMT) on Saturday to leave and residents were advised not to travel between towns within Segrià.
The local lockdown began on Saturday afternoon with provisions made to allow non-residents to leave. Catalonia is one of the Spanish regions worst affected by coronavirus.
