Health

Spanish gov't orders partial lockdown in Madrid after a rise in cases

Madrid, Oct 1 (EFE).- Madrid has 48 hours to implement a partial lockdown that will prevent residents leaving the city limits without justification and introduce tighter measures on social life, according to new criteria approved by the Spanish government on Thursday. The capital and its outlying region have once again become the focal point of the pandemic in Spain with a two-week coronavirus incidence rate of 784 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, more than double the national average. Madrid’s regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso, a member of the conservative Popular Party, said her government will obey the new measures but would challenge their legality in court. FOOTAGE OF MADRID ON THURSDAY.SOUNDBITES OF-ALONSO, TAXI DRIVER:"First of all, measures are not clear at all and I find it shameful that the Community of Madrid gives priority to its interests rather than public health and deaths."-SARA, LIVES IN VALLADOLID BUT COMES TO MADRID FOR WORK. "I think it is ok because health comes first so if it is necessary to take measures, the sooner the better." -CARMEN, PERFUMERY ATTENDANT:"Very bad. We are in a place where people are not coming anymore. Many of our customers are from areas which are not in the city centre and they don't come. We have to deliver (our products) to older people because they are scared to come in here. Also all workers who used to be here are now working from home so they are not coming anymore, there are no tourists. So it's bad. The situation is bad in the city centre."