Spain: Authorities impose additional COVID-19 restrictions in Madrid October 2 /update 50

Event

Authorities in Madrid imposed new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions on Friday, October 2, amid an uptick in cases. The measures will apply to Madrid and nine towns around the capital, with more than three million people expected to be affected by the measures. From Friday, people can travel outside their home districts for essential journeys only. Bars and restaurants cannot serve after 22:00 (local time), and a maximum of six people are permitted to meet in any setting. Madrid's city authorities tried to block the imposition as they were fearful of the economic impact that the lockdown would cause; however, Spain's federal government demanded the measures go ahead. Madrid's current infection rate is roughly 730 cases per 100,000 people, compared with just 300 per 100,000 in the rest of Spain. 

As of Saturday, October 3, there have been 789,932 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Spain with 32,086 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 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.