By Tony Winterburn • Published: 17 Mar 2020 • 13:11
Locals applauded the move which is designed to keep the virus at bay and they were full of civic pride as they watched the street cleaners move swiftly up and down the pavements and streets of Fuengirola and Benalmadena using high-pressure hoses to douse the surfaces with high strength disinfectant.
The government has also ordered all schools, restaurants, bars and non-essential stores to close, extending measures that various regional authorities, including in Madrid and in Catalonia, had taken in recent days. Long-distance trains and buses across the country will have less frequent service.
Shortly after Spain’s Pm, Mr. Sánchez announced the new measures, Pablo Casado, the leader of the main opposition Popular Party, made his own televised address, claiming that the government “has shown once more that it’s not up to the challenge.”
Mr. Casado lambasted Mr. Sánchez for acting late throughout the crisis, including on Saturday when the prime minister’s announcement was delayed by several hours.
On Saturday, the Madrid region, the epicenter of Spain’s coronavirus crisis, accounting for more than half of the reported cases, was already feeling the effects of restricted movement.
Madrid is normally one of Europe’s most bustling cities, with people filling its public parks and squares, or meeting for drinks and tapas in its thousands of bars and cafes.
Yet on Saturday, Madrid resembled a ghost city, as its 3.5 million residents, who normally spend much of their social life on the streets, started to follow the advice of the authorities to stay at home.
The train stations and main avenues were almost deserted, while some police cars patrolled the city center. Only stores providing basic services— such as supermarkets and gas stations — were allowed to stay open. People who ventured outside often headed to supermarkets to buy essential supplies.
Museums and other public venues closed earlier this week. The gates of Madrid’s central park, the Retiro, were shut by the police on Saturday afternoon.
🚿 Trabajamos en la desinfección de las calles del municipio 👏🏼 Nuestro agradecimiento a los trabajadores municipales 👷🏻♂️, Policía Local 👮🏻♀️, Bomberos 👨🏻🚒, Protección Civil 🟠🔵 y a todas las personas que continúan realizando labores de servicio público en Benalmádena pic.twitter.com/x542ompUVM — Ayuntamiento de Benalmádena (@BenalmadenaAyto) March 17, 2020
🚿 Trabajamos en la desinfección de las calles del municipio
👏🏼 Nuestro agradecimiento a los trabajadores municipales 👷🏻♂️, Policía Local 👮🏻♀️, Bomberos 👨🏻🚒, Protección Civil 🟠🔵 y a todas las personas que continúan realizando labores de servicio público en Benalmádena pic.twitter.com/x542ompUVM
— Ayuntamiento de Benalmádena (@BenalmadenaAyto) March 17, 2020
Share this story
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don't already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Download our media pack in either English or Spanish.