Madrid – Spain's north-eastern region of
Catalonia enforced a new lockdown on more than 200 000 people on
Saturday after several new outbreaks of the coronavirus were
detected.
Residents in Segria, which includes the city of Lleida, will
not be able to leave the area from noon on
Saturday, but will not be confined to their homes as was the
case in Spain's original strict lockdown in March.
"We have decided to confine Segria due to data that confirm
too significant a growth in the number of COVID-19 infections,"
Catalan regional president Quim Torra told a news briefing.
Regional health ministry data showed there were 3,706 cases
in the Lleida region on Friday, up from 3,551 the previous day.
Movement for work will be permitted, but from Tuesday
workers entering or leaving the area will have to present a
certificate from their employer.
Spain has registered 205,545 coronavirus cases and 28,385
deaths, making it one of the worst affected countries in Europe.
After imposing a strict lockdown on March 14, the government
has been gradually easing restrictions in a multi-phase plan
since early May.