21 Aug 2020 | 11:31 PM UTC
Spain: Authorities advise Madrid residents to stay at home August 21 /update 41
Spanish authorities advise Madrid residents to stay at home on August 21; follow government directives
Event
Spanish authorities advised Madrid residents to stay at home on Friday, August 21, due a rise in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the capital. The regional deputy health chief Antonio Zapatero advised residents to not go on trips and to avoid meetings that are not essential, especially those in Madrid's worst-affected areas. The advice from authorities comes after the country confirmed 3650 COVID-19 cases within the last 24 hours on Friday, of which almost one third were registered in Madrid.
On August 14, Spanish authorities ordered nightclubs to close and banned smoking in outdoor areas in establishments where social distancing is not possible. The government has also advised against gatherings of more than ten people and specifically urged young people to not meet outdoors to drink alcohol.
As of August 21, there have been 386,054 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Spain with 28,838 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is to be 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:
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Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water. |
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When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands. |
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If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease. |
