Spain locks down an area with 200,000 people after spike in coronavirus cases

Spain’s Catalonia region has locked down an area following a surge in coronavirus cases – just as Brits prepare to holiday in the country.

An area near the town of Lleida, home to around 200,000 people, was shut down today. 

‘We have decided to confine the del Segria zone following data confirming a sharp rise in COVID-19 infections,’ Catalonia’s regional president Quim Torra told reporters, adding that no one would be allowed to enter or leave the area.

This means the western Catalan city of Lleida and the rest of Segrià county will be under lockdown from midday today. 

An area near the town of Lleida (pictured), home to around 200,000 people, has been shut down today

‘We are taking a step back to protect ourselves and control the outbreak,’ said Torra, who described the measure as a ‘difficult decision.’ 

There have been 62,057 confirmed cases in Catalonia since the outbreak began, with 5,673 related deaths. 

Miquel Buch, the Catalan interior minister, said anyone in Segrià county who don’t live there can leave, but must get out before 12pm. 

He asked anyone who did live there not to travel between towns in the county.

Anyone who does live in Segrià but who aren’t there need to make there way back by 4pm or risk being locked out of their homes. 

Exceptions will be made for people returning from work elsewhere or force majeure. 

Spanish border police officers stand guard at a checkpoint as a car crosses the French-Spanish border at La Jonquera on June 21, 2020

The Ministry of Health in Spain has registered 21 deaths from coronavirus in the last week.

Seventeen new deaths were reported yesterday, with the official country-wide coronavirus death toll now at 28,385. 

The county, an agricultural hotspot with a number of slaughterhouses, has faced a sudden jump in cases compared to the rest of the region.   

Health minister Alba Vergés said on June 22, Lleida’s main hospital had six Covid-19 patients in regular rooms and four in the ICU, but that yesterday it jumped to 21 in regular rooms and 6 in the ICU. 

Only groups of up to 10 people will be allowed to meet up, he added.

It comes after a Covid-19 outbreak was found by the Catalan health department last month in Lleida’s Castrillón care home.   

Tests found five workers and 13 elderly persons were positive, four people had to be hospitalised. 

Spain’s mortality rate had recently returned to normal compared with the same period over the previous five years, with no excess deaths since 18 May.

Some 174 infections have been diagnosed in the country in the last 24 hours, an increase compared to yesterday when 134 were registered. In total, 250,545 have been infected.

After almost 100 days of confinement, Spain had reached the so-called new normal.

Restrictions were lifted and borders with the EU and 15 non-Schengen area countries were opened.  

Arrivals from the UK don’t have to self-isolate on arrival but will have to wear face masks on public transport and public spaces where it is not possible to maintain a five-foot distance. 

England will lift the quarantine of travellers arriving from Spain on July 10 and an air bridge was opened to the country from today – meaning Brits can travel there.

In Catalonia, the government trusts individuals with the responsibility to avoid contagion. 

The restrictions on capacity, both indoors and outdoors, no longer apply. Venues do have to ensure a distance between people of five feet. 

More to follow.