Spain Clamps Down on Citizens Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Spain has surpassed China in total number of Coronavirus infections, leading to increasingly strict measures in order to combat the spread.

Spain Passes 85,000 Cases

With a population of close to 50 million – significantly less than China’s population of 1.4 billion, Spain has overtaken China’s third spot for most infected country in the world, trailing behind the United States and Italy.

With more than 85,000 cases and at least 7,340 deaths as a result of the virus, Spain is starting to enforce tighter stay-at-home rules for its population in order to limit the spread of the virus, as the health care system continues struggling to deal with the outbreak.

With protective gear and equipment being delayed, many medical workers across the country are also contracting the virus and requiring a period of self quarantine, and it’s been taking a toll on Spain’s health care system. On Monday the Spanish government decided to put a two-week halt to all non-essential activities, leaving only pharmacies, hospitals, food stores and several exceptions open.

As the measures are implemented, many fear the future damage on Spain’s economy. With the confinement measures beginning earlier in mid-March, many are now unemployed and another couple of months of no income could lead to thousands of businesses going bankrupt and millions jobless.

Amid the measures and spread of the virus, business leaders and opposition parties are accusing Spain’s government of improvising the measures taken and hurting the economy beyond repair.