IBIZA and Majorca are closing all pubs and clubs and the entire region of Catalonia has been red-zoned in an Italy-style lockdown as Spain declares a state of emergency.
The deadly bug is spreading like wildfire through Europe, with Spain rapidly emerging as a major hotspot and Brits warned against all but essential travel to certain areas.
And Catalonian authorities announced tonight the entire region, including Brit favourite Barcelona would be placed on lockdown.
Regional leader Quim Torra asked Spanish government authorities to help block access to Catalonia by air, rail and water to guarantee the confinement of the whole region.
Torra said: “We are ready to confine the country. We have responded to other great challenges.
“But we need the collaboration of the state in structures that are not our competence: ports, airports and the railway system.”
Measures had previously been in place in several towns across the region but as of midnight tonight, no one will be able to enter or leave the region.
Catalonia has 7.5 million inhabitants with 509 people affected by the pandemic.
Closures for bars and restaurants in resorts like Benidorm and other holiday hotspots along the Costa Blanca, will come into effect at midnight tonight.
The order covers the whole of the Valencian community – including the provinces of Castellon, Valencia and Alicante.
HIGH SACRIFICE
It comes as the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the country would formally declare a state of emergency tomorrow.
Spain has today seen the number of confirmed cases leap by more than 25 per cent – from just over 3,000 to 4,209.
Its death toll has skyrocketed by nearly 50 per cent – from 84 to 120.
There are currently 26 cases of coronavirus in the Balearics and there has been one death – a woman in her 60s who already had underlying health problems.
Balaeric president Francina Armengol acknowledged the measures are “drastic” in a community where the “incidence is low” – 0.8 per cent of the total in Spain – but assured that, with them, the community would come out of the health crisis.
She says “sacrifices” have to be made and has asked for the population to stay at home for the next 15 days.
We are closing all the places where we believe there can be agglomerations.
Francina Armengol, President Of The Balaeric Islands
She told reporters: “We are closing all the places where we believe there can be agglomerations.”
Discos and clubs will have to close for at least a fortnight, after which there will be a further review.
All large events have been suspended and school cancelled.
The president added: “Individual responsibility is essential.
“Each measure of individual protection we take is an advance in the containment of the virus.
“We know that the health crisis is serious, and we know that the economic impact will be important.
“But we can be sure that if we all act with the maximum responsibility we will be able to contain the virus in the coming weeks and we will be able to advance the recovery of economic and social normality.”
STATE OF ALERT
And the Costa del Sol looks set to become the next area of Spain to bring in a forced lockdown.
Juan Marin, vice-president of the Junta de Andalucia regional government covering southern Spain , has confirmed it is working on an “order of confinement.”
He said: “We are elaborating an order of confinement for those municipalities in Andalucia where health authorities consider it to be necessary.
“We recommend people remain in their homes and we also recommend the closure of commercial and leisure establishments.
“Also measures of confinement that restrict the freedom of movement of people, allowing people to move around only for work or medical motives or to acquire essential products.
“We are elaborating the order for that.”
He added: “I appeal to the responsibility of all Andalucians and we demand that people travelling to Andalucia stop doing so.”
COSTA DEL SOL COULD BE NEXT
His anger appeared to be directed at people from Spain’s worst coronavirus-affected area of Madrid, who have been blamed for leaving the capital to quarantine themselves in holiday homes on the Costas.
Authorities in Murcia in south-east Spain announced a lockdown for seven coastal municipalities on earlier today, affecting areas like La Manga.
Mr Marin’s comments pave the way for people on the Costa del Sol to be made to sit out the crisis in their homes and hotels.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that the country will formally declare a state of emergency tomorrow.
The new measures will be decided by a cabinet meeting on Saturday, giving the government power to take wide-ranging measures including temporarily occupying factories and any other premises except private homes.
Mr Sanchez said: “The government of Spain will protect all its citizens and will guarantee the right life conditions to slow the pandemic with as little inconvenience as possible.”
He also warned that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country could surpass 10,000 as early as next week, warning citizens should take precautions.
He said: “Heroism is also washing your hands and staying home.”
Nearly half of infections – 1,990 – have occurred in Madrid, with the UK government advising against all but essential travel there.
And the Spanish capital is now also being put under an Italy-style lockdown, with all bars, restaurants, shops and gyms closed.
Only essential food shops and pharmacies will remain open, it is understood.
In Murcia’s coastal region, including the popular Brit tourist area of La Manga, 500,000 people are being placed on lockdown to help fight the spread of the virus.
It means regional government chiefs are issuing an emergency order limiting freedom of movement in seven coastal municipalities for the next two weeks.
The order is set to lead to the closure of discos, bars and restaurants.
Police checkpoints are also expected to be set up to stop the free movement of people into or out of the lockdown areas, which include the municipality of San Javier covering La Manga.
It comes as the UK government warned against all but essential travel to Madrid and La Rioja, the municipalities of La Bastida and Vitoria and Miranda de Ebro.
