Spain Surpasses 850,000 Confirmed Cases... Two More Cities Locked Down After Madrid

Police are conducting vehicle checks on the streets of Madrid, Spain, where a partial lockdown has been imposed due to the resurgence of COVID-19, on the 5th (local time).
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] While the Spanish capital Madrid remains under lockdown to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the northwestern cities of Leon and Palencia have also implemented lockdown measures.

On the 6th (local time), the Castilla y Le?n autonomous community announced that from that day forward, approximately 125,000 residents of Leon and 78,000 residents of Palencia must not leave the city for at least two weeks except for essential reasons.

This measure was taken as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the two cities exceeded 500. Leon recorded 510.45 cases, and Palencia recorded 536.71 cases. According to local media, the positivity rate of COVID-19 tests in the two regions has surpassed 10%, and more than 35% of intensive care unit beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients.

Under this lockdown, gatherings of more than six people are prohibited in both public and private spaces in the two cities. Restaurants and bars are allowed to operate only until 11 p.m.

Previously, Madrid and surrounding cities implemented similar measures starting from the 2nd, restricting movement outside the region except for commuting to work or school, hospital visits, administrative offices, and bank visits.

According to the international statistics site Worldometer, as of this date, Spain's cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases totaled 852,838, with 32,225 deaths reported.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.