The Latest: Spain Declares Emergency As Cases Rise To 4,200

[appalachiablue]

Source: KTTC/AP

The Latest on the world's coronavirus pandemic:

Spain's leader says he is declaring a state of emergency for two weeks, a measure that will let him "mobilize all resources," including the military, to contain sharp rise in coronavirus cases.

Prime Minister Pedro Snchez made the televised announcement Friday as health authorities confirmed Spain has more than 4,200 infections, with nearly half of those in Madrid. That was an increase by a third compared to one day earlier. So far 120 patients have died.

Snchez says the special measure allows the government to limit free movement, legally confiscate goods and take control of industries and private facilities, including private hospitals. Authorities can also order measures to ensure food supply and the country's industrial output.

He says "it's an emergency that affects the life and health of all. The government is going to protect all citizens," warning that cases could skyrocket to more than 10,000 next week...


Read more: https://kttc.com/2020/03/13/the-latest-china-says-it-wants-to-offer-virus-assistance/

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- PBS NewsHour: 'Spain to declare state of emergency over virus outbreak,' Mar 13, 2020 11:35 AM EDT

MADRID (AP) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says the government will declare a two-week state of emergency in a bid to contain the new coronavirus outbreak.

Sánchez said Friday that Spain will “mobilize all resources,” including the military, to contain the sharp rise in cases.
The special measure allows the central government to limit free movement, legally confiscate goods and take over control of industries and private facilities, including private hospitals. Authorities can also order special measures to ensure food supply and the country’s industrial output. Newspaper El País said that elections scheduled for early April in two northern regions could be delayed as a result.

Sánchez said that it can’t be ruled out that the country will see more than 10,000 cases next week. Health authorities have so far confirmed more than 4,200 cases in the country, with nearly half of those in Madrid. That is an increase of a third compared with one day earlier. A total of 120 people have died, and 189 have been declared as recovered, the Health Ministry said.

“It’s an emergency that affects the life and health of all. The government is going to protect all citizens,” he said.
He said the state of emergency would be declared on Saturday. As Italy grinds to a halt in hopes of stopping its coronavirus outbreak, Spain has become the next country at risk of having its health care system pushed to the brink by the global pandemic that is sweeping its way westward with increasing fury.



- A waitress carries chairs after the town hall decreed the closure of the terraces in Madrid, Spain, March 13, 2020.

Over 60,000 people awoke Friday in four towns near Barcelona confined to their homes and with police blocking roads. The order by regional authorities in Catalonia is Spain’s first mandatory lockdown as infections increase sharply, putting a strain on health services and pressure on the government for more action. The situation in and around the Spanish capital, Madrid, with nearly 2,000 positive cases of the new virus and hospitals rapidly filling up, is a source of particular concern for authorities.
The country as a whole had more than 3,800 cases by Friday morning and at least 84 deaths, but with a rate of contagion that is skyrocketing. In some areas, cases are doubling overnight.

The government has closed museums and sports centers, sent home nearly 10 million students and has asked people to work remotely, while limiting crowds at public events in high-risk areas...

More, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/spain-to-declare-state-of-emergency-over-virus-outbreak

- Switzerland:

Switzerland's president says the Alpine country is reintroducing controls along its borders, expanding the ban on public events and closing all schools until April 4. President Simonetta Sommaruga said Friday the government is also urging citizens to avoid using public transport to combat the spread of the new coronavirus.

The ban on public events will be expanded to include those with more than 100 participants. Bars, restaurants and clubs will only be allowed to have 50 people at any time. The Swiss government is also offering 10 billion Swiss francs in emergency aid to companies affected by the measures.

[Ghost Dog]

1. In proportion to its population Switzerland is quite significantly infected...

And in a few areas of mainland Spain (>4200 cases, latest), especially Madrid (>2000), events are moving quite fast.

Here in the sunny Canary Islands, in a warm, dry winter with ambient temperatures ranging, at sea level, around 16ºC - 24ºC (think: Florida), younger residents are beginning to realise that, while feeling quite secure themselves, they should try to avoid infecting others, especially the elderly and very young.

On my island, Fuerteventura (one case, had visited N. Italy), the last flight bringing tourists, mostly, directly from Milan arrived last Monday morning (so many Italian tourists are stuck here). Flights from mainland Spain still arrive bringing 'refugees' from, especially, Madrid. No airport testing.

Neighboring Morocco (six cases: tourists) has severed air and maritime connections with us.

Schools and universities etc. closed. Bars and restaurants still open. And shops. All 'mass' gatherings cancelled/prohibited.

[appalachiablue]

2. Thanks for the report and lucky you in the mild Canary Islands.

The freight train coronavirus is moving fast now- glad to hear the young people there are being so responsible.

The young should observe and take notes as some are predicting that the '2nd wave' of this virus will impact their demographic hard--based on past history I think.

[a la izquierda]

4. I hope it stays that way.

I'm planning to spend the summer in the Canaries, working on a research project. Here's hoping this thing blows over soon.

[Ghost Dog]

5. Great!

Contact me.

[Thyla]

3. We are near Alicante

And it's a total shit show out there at the shops.

Thankfully I saw this coming so have been steadily stocking up and we should be ok food wise but beer and wine levels were critically low so we had to brave the masses.
Never seen anything like it people are vultures, no meat left, no pasta left, no flour left, no tp. Damn fools but to be fair who knows what is ahead.

My wife's work up until she left today still expect her to turn up next week but maybe the declaration has changed things. I hope so, pretty sure we'll be fine at home. Picked a hell of a time to quit smoking.

[Ghost Dog]

6. Thanks for that info, Thyla.

"Expat" Brits... A la mierda, or so I hear, ... Vamos.

[Thyla]

7. I think the Madrilenos...

Have stolen that crown for the foreseeable future.

It was panic buying again this morning but things have settled down and had probably the calmest ALDI shopping experience ever just now. Plus they actually had stock so I'm pretty sure we can do this two weeks at home.
My wife does not intend to go to work now, she can telework and took the laptop home just in case so I'm hoping that wont be an issue.

Last couple of days have been pretty stressful but going to crack a cold one and relax this evening at least.

[Ghost Dog]

9. Cool.

I worked hard back in the early '90s trying to convince people, the EU Commission, that "teleworking" was the right way, environmentally, to go...

... Wine levels: right. Going shopping. Mary Jane levels no problem around here...

[Thyla]

10. Hah, well my wife does work for an EU agency

Their teleworking option is normally pretty good but the last update was unless you have a kid affected by school closures then you had to come in Monday. This may of changed after today but so far nothing official so she will take the rest of her sick leave and tele days if she has to. But she shouldn't have to really.

Wine and beer levels are suspect here for 15 days but it'll be close, I have tried to cover it. MJ no issue but haven't ordered this years seeds so come June I think I'll be out, no biggie but no idea if even mail will be coming so I', ok with waiting.

Stay safe

[greenjar_01]

8. Shelves low on all those items in Chicago this morning

It was disconcerting, to say the least.

Fresh produce, on the other hand, is piled in abundance

[DFW]

11. I was in Barcelona since Wednesday, now stuck at Madrid airport overnight due to Iberia snafu

I had my usual tight-but-doable Barcelona to Madrid to Düsseldorf connection that I take on weekends since the usual evening nonstop from Barcelona to Düsseldorf doesn't fly on weekends. Only this time Iberia was operating under Murphy's law, and my flight left two and a half hours late--a little too much lost time when the connection is only 45 minutes.

So, I got to Madrid and the plane to Düsseldorf was long gone. I trudged the interminable distance to the Iberia counter that was still open, and the line was good and long. But a few things broke my way, and I got to a counter before too long. The woman there smiled at me and was very nice for getting in the right line and speaking fluent Castilian. She gave me a decent hotel with a voucher for dinner (not gourmet, but a nice salad bar with beet salad and unlimited palm hearts). They didn't refill the tomato sauce, so I swiped my bottle of water instead of paying another three euros for the one in the hotel mini bar (revenge is mine!).

The flight up to Düsseldorf is at 8:40 tomorrow morning. My neighbor told me that Germany was sending all passengers arriving from Madrid straight to quarantine, due the high number of infections here. I hope I can convince the health authorities that I was only in transit, and never went into town. At the help desk in Madrid they gave me a boarding pass for the flight. Unfortunately they kept my baggage slip, so I hope Barajas knows which flight to put it on.

I swear, if this trip gets any worse, testing positive for the virus will only be a side effect.

[Ghost Dog]

15. Hope you made it!

Barajas is famous for losing baggage...

[DFW]

16. For once, the story ended well.

I skipped the included breakfast at the hotel in order to be sure to get to the airport in time. Good thing. We left from gate M49 which has to be the farthest gate from the entrance in the whole airport. Almost every passenger was a German in the same boat as I was--got in to Barajas too late to make their (and probably my) Düsseldorf connection, and put up by Iberia at airport hotels. Iberia actually offered a decent breakfast on the plane, so I didn't starve.

At the gate, I asked the agent about my bag, since the Iberia agent had tossed away my baggage claim stub when she gave me my new boarding pass. But they had my claim check number in the computer, and said it was being onloaded to the new flight. Sure enough, it showed up in Düsseldorf. With the reduced schedule, the airport was almost deserted, and the baggage showed up quickly. Düsseldorf is pretty quick with that anyway. My wife showed up in her car almost at the same moment as when I exited the terminal, so we got home in time for me to change, and get ready for our neighbor's birthday brunch. She held it, departing from tradition, at the Greek place up the street (we usually do this at a Mongolian buffet in Düsseldorf). There were less invitees, too, so it was nice.

[Steelrolled]

12. What has happened in Europe?

Spain, France and Germany all getting worse quickly. I image US will catch up soon

[DFW]

13. All we did here is be ourselves

We're densely packed into small countries where the only really "isolated" villages are the ones that haven't discovered horses yet. There are Chinese people everywhere. Just because Trump screwed up relations with them doesn't mean Europe did. All you need is one case in continental Europe of something that is easily spread. And then, whaddya know? It gets easily spread.

[SKKY]

14. My family is in Cadiz right now, and it would appear that...

...absent guidance from Madrid, local municipalities are stepping up and taking charge. Bars, restaurants, and most store have been closed for the past 3 days. They’re taking this very seriously, hoping to learn from what went wrong in Italy.