Spanish government prohibiting all journeys in Spain
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The Spanish Cabinet on Saturday decided that it was going to do as much as possible to slow down coronavirus contagions in the country. Government ministers have opted to prohibit all journeys in Spain that are not due to “force majeure,” but will allow trips so that people can get to work and purchase food.
The decision was taken at a special meeting today ahead of the implementation of a state of alarm in Spain, a measure that was announced on Friday by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in a bid to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
The latest information supplied on Saturday by the central Health Ministry put the number of people in Spain infected by the coronavirus at 5,700, with at least 136 deaths from the Covid-19 disease and 517 patients cured and released from hospital.
Spain’s armed forces, police and civil protection officers are now under the sole command of the interior minister, according to the Spanish government’s state of alarm decree, which was officially approved this afternoon.
All of the country’s health workers are similarly placed under the direct command and disposal of the health Minister.
All of the nation’s highways are closed, and all modes of air, rail, maritime and road transportation are being cut by between 40 and 60 percent, meaning that even those who are authorized to move about the country will have trouble doing so.
The government reserves the right to take over energy utilities and impose additional measures to reinforce the quarantine.
The decree includes measures similar to those passed in Italy this week, and imposes strict rules on free movement throughout Spain: as of 8 a.m. on Monday citizens can only leave their homes to buy groceries and pharmaceutical products, go to the bank or hospital, or to take care of dependents.
While citizens can go to work, all workplaces except markets and pharmacies are to be closed to the public until further notice.
