A rise in coronavirus infections in Madrid has Spanish authorities scrambling to impose restrictions to slow the spread of the disease.
Health Minister Salvador Illa said Wednesday that the Spanish capital is “special” to containing COVID-19 because it is the epicenter of the disease in Spain.
“Madrid’s health is Spain’s health. Madrid is special,” Illa noted.
Beginning Wednesday, people will be barred from visiting the city for nonessential trips, and residents of the city will only be permitted to cross municipal boundaries to go to work, school, or see the doctor. For all other leisure activities, residents will be required to stay within the city limits.
Bars and city playgrounds will be closed every evening beginning at 11 p.m., and social gatherings in the city will be limited to no more than six people.
Of the more than 133,000 reported cases of the coronavirus in Spain over the past two weeks, more than one-third have been found in Madrid.
