Spain: Additional COVID-19 restrictions to be imposed in Madrid from July 30 /update 39

Event

Authorities in Madrid announced on Tuesday, July 28, that additional restrictions will be imposed from Thursday, July 30, following a significant rise in the rate of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections in the city. Restrictions include limiting public gatherings to ten people and making the use of masks mandatory in all public spaces, including streets, terraces, and places where social distancing is possible. The mandatory use of face masks does not apply to those aged six or younger. Clubs, bars, and terraces will be allowed to operate until 01:30 (local time) and all customers must fill in a register for contact-tracing purposes in the event of an outbreak. Authorities may implement further restrictions with little or no notice if necessary. The announcement comes after France and Germany advised against travel to the worst-affected areas of Spain, which include Catalonia, Aragon, and Navarre, and the UK restored quarantine requirements for travelers returning from the country.

As of July 28, there have been 278,782 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, and 28,434 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures: