Documented cases of COVID 19 in Spain are said to have shot up to 4,200, with 120 deaths reported. Said to be exacerbated by mass gatherings for sport, politics and International women’s day, a state of emergency has been declared, and set to last for a reported 15 days.
Madrid, Catalonia and the Basque region are believed to be severely affected. Madrid is logged as the most severely affected. Half of the cases and almost 2/3 of deaths said to be occuring in Madrid. At Madrid’s La Paz Hospital, reportedly the gymn has been converted into a quarantine area. Roads have been closed to four towns in north eastern Spain. In the Catalan town of Igualada the mayor described the situation at the local hospital as desperate.
In a report said to be published yesterday, academics at the Esade University, Barcelona debated the economic impact, believed to be especially prevalent by eu standards. Would be tourists to Madrid and northern Spain might be able to postpone their holidays.