Coronavirus Update on November 14, 2020

The number of positive cases in Spain increases daily as the COVID-19 spreads throughout the country. Because of this, the Autonomous States have been forced to take different measures to ensure the well-being and safety of their citizens.

Below you can find the information on the current situation of COVID-19 in Castilla y León, as well as the measures that have been taken to contain the spread of the virus

Current situation of COVID-19 in Castilla y Leon/Segovia

Confirmed cases: 103.186

Daily cases: 2.237

Deaths: 4.034

ICU Saturation in Rio Carrión (most affected hospital): 157%

% of COVID-19 occupation in ICU: 72%

The government of Castilla y León has appealed to the individual and collective responsibility of citizens to comply with the basic measures of social distance, hand hygiene, and mandatory use of the mask in legally-established situations.

Restrictions:

• Closure of all bars and restaurants

• Restaurants that offer home delivery and take-away are allowed to remain open

• Closure of shopping malls and retail parks

• Not apply to stores that provide essential services and good, or to retail shops smaller than 2.500 square meters and have direct street access

• Visits to senior homes and child protection centers are suspended, expect in unspecified circumstances

• Sporting activities in indoor spaces are banned

• With exception of training for professional athletes and official games, which will not be open to public

• Six-person limit on social gatherings

• Night curfew, which is applied between 22:00 and 6:00

In response to those restrictions impacting many sectors, some protests have been held in Segovia. For many businesses such as restaurants and bars, these restrictions had a significant impact such as the definitive closure of their activity.

Current situation of COVID-19 in Madrid

Virus cases in Madrid have been falling over the last two weeks, but as seen in the graphs, different municipalities within the Community of Madrid have different risks. Areas such as Colmenar de Oreja and Villaconejos, both very far from the center of Madrid, have increasing cases. Other areas, including El Vellón and Bustarviejo, also very far from the center of Madrid, have had very low cases and are also decreasing. Although cases are on the rise in Spain as a whole, cases in the Community of Madrid have been declining, which suggests that the restriction measures have been effective. Therefore, restrictions have been lifted in 10 areas in the Community of Madrid: Peña Prieta and Rafael Alberti (Puente de Vallecas), El Espinillo, San Andrés and San Cristóbal (Villaverde), Vinateros-Torito (Moratalaz), Brújula and Las Fronteras (Torrejón de Ardoz), Guadarrama (Guadarrama) and San Blas (Parla). Furthermore, El Rastro, the large flea market in La Latina, will reopen on Sunday, November 22.

Spain

In Spain, the measures are decided by regional governments. As previously mentioned Castilla Y León is under a perimetrical lockdown, so it is not possible to move from a region to another unless a valid reason. However, in the Capital City of Madrid, the curfew is imposed at 00:00 but essential and non-essential businesses can carry on their activities. Catalonia, Murcia, Galicia and Navarra are following similar measures as Castilla Y León.

Spain has a total number of 1,46m cases and around 21,371 daily cases.

Europe

Source: European Center for Disease Prevention and Control

Most European countries are right now facing a second wave constraining some countries to take strict measures in order to decrease the spread of the virus. Below you can find a sheet picturing the situation in France, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom (countries where the virus is spreading at a fast pace). 

Regarding new measures, in France the French president Emmanuel Macron announced on October 30 a month long lockdown implying the closure of universities, restaurants, bars and non-essential businesses. In order to move from a place to another, people must hold a certificate justifying the reason for being outside. Two weeks after the lockdown, cases dropped by half showing the efficiency of this measure.

In Italy, the measures are tailored on a regional basis. In the whole territory restaurants and bars are obliged to close at 6:00pm and a curfew varying from 11pm to 00:00am. For red regions (the most affected), all non-essential shops are closed and it is not allowed to leave its house without any valid reason. Yellow regions such as Lazio where the capital city is located, the only restriction is the national curfew. The city of Naples experienced large protests, some of which turned violent with clashes between protestors and police over lockdown measures. Regardless of the regional lockdown, number of cases are increasing compared to last week.

Regarding Germany, the lockdown is considered as partial. The aim of this restriction is to limit social life and interactions. Bars, restaurants and gyms are closed. However, schools and shops remain open. 

According to the Dutch government, most businesses such as restaurants, bars, cinemas, libraries and parks must remain closed but exceptions are made for educational institutions, gyms and hotels. (For more information visit: government.nl website). Those measures proved to be efficient since cases are currently decreasing. 

Finally in the United Kingdom, non-essential businesses, restaurants and gyms are closed. Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister, urged individuals to follow quarantine protocols in order to have ‘as normal a Christmas as possible.’ The lockdown will end on December 2nd as of publishing.

The European Commission has also urged people to follow guidelines set out by the member states and calls on member states to better coordinate response. This would include data reporting to the European CDC, standardized travel restrictions, and shared hospital data to facilitate cross-border hospitalizations.