By George Stephens • Published: 17 May 2020 • 11:15
A650YN British culture on the Costa del Sol bar in Fuengirola Spain. Image shot 02/2007. Exact date unknown.
After nearly 10 long weeks on lockdown and as residents prepare to enter Phase one, whilst the Spanish prime minister looks to extend a State of Alarm for another month in congress, residents on Spain’s Costa Del Sol are starting to look back on their memoirs and thoughts of what they have been through.
As with anything as dramatic as the recent pandemic of coronavirus, there will always be a mixed bag of opinion, whilst many believe the lockdown was needed to secure their safety, others have different views on the subject and believe it was a waste of time as they expressed their opinions.
One of those residents is Jason Thorne a plasterer on the Costa Del Sol, who told the Euro Weekly News of his sheer frustration:
“I haven’t worked for 10.5 weeks now due to lockdown as the area has been destitute and nobody has required any plastering, everything has been closed due to being shut down, personally I don’t think there was any need, we could have gone out and carried on as normal if we wore masks, yes I agree pubs and restaurants should have been closed because you can eat and drink at home, but the rest of it has been over the top and it’s going to leave the region of the Costa del Sol skint for a long time to come, we are going to regret this.”
Mike Gregg from Torreblanca who is an online car trader said:
“I can understand Madrid and possibly other big cities going into a lockdown period, there’s no argument against there but the Costa Del Sol shouldn’t have, precautions could have been taken to defend against the coronavirus but a total lockdown wasn’t required in my opinion, it’s desolated the region for many months, possibly years to come, I believe we only got totally shut down to stop the likes of Madrid residents travelling out of the heavily contaminated areas and spreading it, what they should have done is spent the resources that have been spent on lockdown in sealing off the big cities only, I think we only got the virus here in the first place due to that fact, it’s clear to me that’s why the establishment totally locked down the Costa del Sol, hey you only have to look at the fact, the beaches got closed first even before the lockdown period. I know a lot of people who don’t agree with me but that’s my belief.”
James Dawn looked at the global picture as he sat on his balcony in La Cala:
“Just over 300,000 died in the world, the world’s a very large place, it’s been clear that people have had it and not even known about it, the majority recovered at home just as you do with a bad bout of flu and it was mainly people with health problems who died, those with health problems could have self isolated and the rest of us could just have taken precautions, come on 300,000 is just the size of one large concert arena say in Rio when a big band plays, it’s been a total over reaction all round and could bust many countries.”
“Media hype” claimed Ronald Davidson from Fuengirola “If it wasn’t for mass hysteria broadcast by the likes of Sky News and the BBC across the world, we wouldn’t be in this position at all, they have made a big song and dance from it in my opinion. This has then forced the governments to go OTT as they have to be seen to counteract for the people.
“Sanchez panicked and got it all wrong here in Spain, he didn’t react quick enough when areas of Madrid first got it and then he overreacted when it was too late, Madrid should have been ring fenced from the off, he sat and dithered and then overreacted by basically shutting down the country, Spain is poor enough as it is, he should have thought about that before ordering what he did – I think he should be sacked, he’s going to bust Spain, the Germans got it right and Scandic countries too.”
Retired lawyer Gareth Emery made his point on social media from his home in Mijas as he said in regards smokers and the current figures:
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While I have total empathy about the impacts to the economy here in Spain. But before you hold up the USA as the right approach know that they have chosen a path of “choose your own adventure.” There is inadequate testing and contact tracing is totally neglected. The American public doubts the safety of going out so except for the public with guns organized by the Trump campaign, the economy will not heal until they address the virus. Unfortunately, rural communities in the USA are facing increased spread of infection and Trump’s answer is untested drug therapies and injections of household cleaners.There is no social net or national health service for most people so if you need help there you can call for prayer from a radical nationalist evangelical church. They only charge 10 percent of your unemployment payment if you get it. PM Sanchez has taken difficult and unpopular actions but likely has saved countless lives and perhaps the health system in Spain. I hope that business will be saved this year and next year is better but being dead or ruined from covid is a far worse situation.
Well some people are idiots and nothing anyone can do will change that.
To all the people who want to start getting money from tourist, I would ask what price they would put on a human life.
The lockdown was done was for a very good reason, if you don’t like it start walking back to the UK. Just like the ex Pats who voted for Brexit their shot away.
It’s all very well saying it’s been a waste of time, but you don’t know how many lives have been saved, despite the high number of deaths there could have been so many more deaths of lock down hadn’t been initiated. Probably we will never know, damned if you do and damned if you don’t unfortunately.
Ok if it’s that bad we’ll send all British back to UK we don’t need then in Spain 🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸
I have fun reading these news about seeing the straw in your brother’s eye, and not the rafter in your own.
Costa del sol is one of the places in Andalusia with the most covid-19 infected and deaths. Suddenly everyone is an epidemiologist with a master’s in political science. The government’s measures (late as they were) are a necessity to save human lives and to stop the virus from spreading. Unfortunately, some people value money more than that… What a pity and a disgrace
I wonder why they didn’t interview epidemiologists and doctors… oh, yeah, because actual science doesn’t interest ignorant people who don’t know what they’re talking about but want someone to agree with them anyway.
We have all felt the lock down, commenting here proves I’m alive, I work at Alicante Airport and was more exposed than many…. Thank you government I’m still alive and kicking… Sure Europe said same things with the black plague, yet we are still here… Easy to say we could have carried on with life wearing masks but here’s the deal, working at the airport and watching people on the streets, well sorry I disagree cause I saw thousands walking around with no gloves no masks and more importantly no care… Lock down was not only good but necessary and personally think lifting it now without vaccine is a mistake….
Those expats who speak no Spanish and only watch British TV without paying a fee might consider moving back to the UK. They are taking the jobs from Spaniards after all. And there is no government in the world who has not made the odd mistake, first and foremost UK and US
Edith, they are not expats. They are immigrants. And after reading their opinions we don’t want them back in the UK. We have enough covidiots already
Those interviewed are clearly not a representative cross section of UK nationals living here. It is a difficult balance and I am no fan of this government, but the US route and the failure of Boris to do more than advise and recommend measures like wearing masks and social distancing are not the options I would wish to be living with.
I would say the split is about risk takers and non-risk takers.
So, around 50% for lock down and 50% against lock down.
A little like Brexiteers and Remainers! I have a view which is, I would be interested to see the estimated impact of non-lockdown and lockdown?
It is impossible to comment without true information and impossible to have a clear view other than to understand your view is based upon little other than the way you are and how you consider “risk”
Surely, the real “political scientists” have an estimate and comparison?
The economic impact will be massive. The emotional impact to those who have lost loved ones will also be massive. It is circumstantial.
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