Barcelona goes into ‘voluntary lockdown’: City’s 1.6m residents are urged to stay home and avoid groups of more than ten after spike in coronavirus cases
- Regional government stopped short of imposing a mandatory lockdown
- Authorities said requested measures were to avoid a mandatory lockdown
- Barcelona residents encouraged to shop online and only leave home when it’s absolutely essential
Catalonia’s regional authorities on Friday called on residents of Barcelona to stay home and not gather in groups of more than ten in order to fight an increase in coronavirus cases.
But the regional government stopped short of imposing a mandatory lockdown for Spain’s second-largest city and said the measures were meant to avoid having to do so.
Residents of Barcelona, which is one of Spain’s tourism hotspots, are encouraged to shop online and only go out of home when it’s absolutely essential, regional officials told a news conference.
Catalonia’s regional authorities on Friday called on residents of Barcelona to stay home and not gather in groups of more than ten in order to fight an increase in coronavirus cases
Cultural and sports events will also be limited.
The Catalan capital – home to 1.6 million people and one of Europe’s most visited cities – has seen its number of coronavirus cases jump from last week.
The northeastern powerhouse is where most of Catalonia’s new 1,300 infections have been identified according to the region’s health department.
In total, the region has seen 62,057 coronavirus infections and 5,673 deaths, out of a nationwide total of nearly 259,000 cases and 28,416 deaths.
By Thursday, 12 of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions had approved mandatory use of masks outdoors and regardless of whether social distancing of 1.5 meters (5 feet) can be maintained.