BREAKING: Catalan premier announces decree to permit coronavirus lockdowns after judge blocks confinement order

A judge ruled today that the lockdown of Lleida area due to the rising infections in the area which was ordered by the local authorities was to be rejected.

THE Judge had deemed the order as to be disproportionate, pointing out that ordering such a confinement “is a state power and is exercised, what’s more, with the guarantee of the intervention of Congress,” a reference to Spain’s lower house of parliament.

This led to the areas in question – Lleida, Alcarràs, Aitona, Seròs, Soses, La Granja d’Escarp, Massalcoreig, Torres de Segre and the decentralised municipal entities of Sucs and Raimat, not being sure where they stood as to the lockdown scenario.

This has been put to rest by Catalan regional premier Quim Torra, when he announced this afternoon that he would be passing a decree in order to establish the conditions under which movement could be restricted due to coronavirus outbreaks. “We will always take decisions listening to the experts, even if there is resistance from some sectors,” he said at a press conference on Monday morning. The regional government also announced a €4 million plan for the affected area, in order to avoid a greater impact on the economy.

“With respect to the situation in Lleida,” Torra continued, “we declare that we do not agree [with the judge’s decision]. I assume the consequences that may arise, but I cannot put the health of citizens at risk. This afternoon we will approve a decree that will widen and given more coverage to this resolution, which we consider to be in force. We will take all of the measures necessary for the health of citizens in accordance with epidemiological criteria, without judicial pressures.”

At the moment the central government has ruled out reinstating the ‘State of Alarm,’ to control the outbreak in Lleida.