Spain imposes state of emergency in Madrid to curb spread of COVID-19

The Spanish government on Friday declared a state of emergency in and around Madrid to enforce a partial lockdown to curb the rampant spread of coronavirus infections. The decision was taken overriding opposition from the regional authorities. 

Health Minister Salvador Illa stated that “The government has decided to declare a state of emergency… for the next 15 days,” following an urgent cabinet meeting.

The decision comes a day after the region’s top court shot down restrictions imposed on 4.5 million people in and around the capital.

Madrid’s top regional court on Thursday had rejected a partial lockdown imposed at the weekend on the capital and nine nearby towns to slow down the rapid spread of coronavirus infections.

As per the court statement, it “had denied the ratification (of the measures) on grounds they impacted on the rights and fundamental freedoms” of the 4.5 million residents affected by the closure, which went into force late Friday night.

Spain currently has 884,381 coronavirus cases in the country and has witnessed the death of 32,688 people since the inception of the pandemic. The area of Madrid has recorded more than 259,000 cases of COVID-19 has witnessed 9,637 deaths.