Spain’s Segrià region battles spike in Covid-19, orders total lockdown

The Catalonian government in Spain has ordered that Segrià region, home to more than 200,000 people, be locked down indefinitely as the region battles spikes in Covid-19 cases and hospitalization.

This was disclosed on Saturday July 4, 2020, by Quim Torra, Catalonia President, who said the move was to prevent the spread of the contagion.

“We take a step back to protect ourselves and we will take all the decisions to stop the contagion,” he said.

The government ruled out the selective lockdown and instead opted for total lockdown, a drastic and aggressive move to prevent the spread of the virus.

Catalonia’s minister of health Alba Verges on Saturday justified the total lockdown saying “It is essential to act in this way.”

The president further said that Police checkpoints would be used to enforce the lockdown.

While confirming the lockdown order, Catalonia’s minister of the interior, Miquel Buch, said as soon as the lockdown comes into effect only those who work in the region would be allowed in or out of it.

It was however stated that movement by highways or motorways would be allowed in the area provided their departure and destination is not Segria.

Effective midday Saturday, a gathering of more than ten people is banned in public and private places.

Reportedly, the number of people who have been hospitalized at the University Hospital in Leida has been three times higher in the region.

It was also reported that about 21 patients are receiving treatment at a local hospital while six are being given intensive care treatment.

As the region keeps experiencing spikes in the rate of Covid-19 infections, it has recorded more than 72,860 COVID-19 cases and about 12,586 deaths.

Being one of the hardest-hit countries in Europe, Spain has recorded about250,545 confirmed COVID-19 cases and about 28,385 coronavirus related deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University analysis.