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ARCHIVED - 2nd April coronavirus news round-up in Murcia: death toll up to 42 but lockdown breakers endanger the population
Case numbers still growing as the economic consequences become more apparent
On a day when the latest medical bulletin provided by the Murcia health service (SMS) provides some timid indications that the extent of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Region may be stabilizing the headlines during the morning have centred on the economic effects of the crisis, with the March unemployment figures having provided confirmation of the mass destruction of jobs caused by the virus.
On the face of it, an increase of 5,827 in the number of people registered as out of work in Murcia is perhaps not as high as some had feared, representing a rise of 5.74 per cent during the month, and indeed this is one of the least significant rises in the 17 regions of Spain. In fact, the latest figure of 107,312 is only 2.42 per cent higher than a year ago, as opposed to the 9 per cent increase in the whole country.
But at the same time it is reported at national level that while the number of people registered as unemployed rose by 302,000 the number of people making social security contributions fell by 833,000, a decrease matched by a 5.07 per cent fall in Murcia. Taking into account also the number of workers who are “hibernating” due to businesses being closed during the lockdown, it is estimated by many observers that the “real” current jobless total has risen to over 5 million across the country, as opposed to the official total of 3,548,312.
Further worries in Murcia have been caused by reports that thousands of employees affected by ERTE temporary employment regulation schemes are at risk of not receiving the wage supplements due to them in April, due to the administrative offices dealing with the schemes finding it impossible to deal with all of the claims in time for them to have been accepted and registered in time. Their payments will arrive eventually but in many cases not until May
In addition, there is considerable discontent among the self-employed as they and their financial advisers study the small print of the measures announced to help them during this week. It appears, according to the ATA organization representing sole traders in Spain, that only 3 out of 10 self-employed will be entitled to suspend their mandatory social security contributions immediately , due to the moratorium not being applied to businesses which closed down when the lockdown was imposed in mid-March.
In other words, according to Celia Ferrero of ATA; “we will continue paying and they will refund the money when we’re dead”: she may be exaggerating, but her sense of aggrievement will be shared by many self-employed in the Region.
On the other hand, residents in 20 of the 45 municipalities will at least benefit from a decision made by the regional government to postpone the payment of 37 local taxes which were due for collection between the declaration of the state of emergency almost three weeks ago and the beginning of May. The municipalities affected are Abanilla, Abarán, Águilas, Albudeite, Aledo, Beniel, Blanca, Bullas, Calasparra, Campos del Río, Fuente Álamo, Jumilla, La Unión, Librilla, Los Alcázares, Moratalla, Mula, Pliego, Puerto Lumbreras and Santomera, and the taxes relate mainly to motor vehicle owners, weekly markets and water and rubbish collection rates.
Meanwhile, in terms of the pandemic itself, there have still been fewer coronavirus deaths in Murcia than in any other of Spain’s 17 regions, but the seriousness of the crisis is more than apparent in the Region’s hospitals and other facilities involved at the front line of the struggle to contain Covid-19.
One of the most illustrative examples of the devastation caused by the coronavirus is that in Madrid, even with the Palacio de Hielo ice rink having been pressed into service as a temporary morgue, the number of deaths is too high for funeral directors to be able to cater for all of them, and it is reported that 20 dead bodies forming part of the “overflow” in the national capital are currently awaiting cremation at funeral parlours in Murcia. The ceremonies will be conducted with no mourners and no funeral wake, in order to eliminate risks of further contagion, and while those working in the sector recognize that medical and healthcare staff are those at most acute risk they continue to demand further protection.
Some even report that they are obliged to wash their protective gloves in bleach in order to reuse them due to shortages in supplies.
Meanwhile, as efforts to contain the virus are redoubled pharmacists in Murcia are now offering home delivery of medication for members of the public who have tested positive or are in quarantine, extending their help to those of reduced mobility.
At the same time, six hotels have now been made available as accommodation for extra medical staff drafted in to deal with the current emergency, although at present only 29 of the 278 beds in Murcia, Cartagena, Lorca, Caravaca de la Cruz, Yecla and San Pedro del Pinatar have been taken up.
This kind of help is absolutely vital and is welcomed, but the health authorities have been forced to request that generous donors making their own facemasks and offering them to medical staff should desist from doing so. This is because the masks do not provide the required level of protection for use in hospitals and health centres, although they are generally adequate for use by people anxious not to risk infecting others if they consider that they may have contracted the virus: they do not protect the wearer, but can reduce the risk for others in the vicinity.
And yet still there are people determined to go on believing that the crisis does not apply to them, and that they have every right to disregard the lockdown. In Alcantarilla two people have been arrested for holding a street party earlier this week and then attempting to stab the police officers detaining them, while various of their neighbours hurled beer cans and other objects at the police as they upheld the lockdown restrictions.
At the same time, in the municipality of San Javier alone the local police force has issued as many as 255 fines for disobeying the lockdown since it was imposed two and a half weeks ago, with councillor Rubén Pérez having nothing but praise for the efforts of the police, the Guardia Civil, Protección Civil and various volunteers in ensuring that the restrictions are enforced.
In a show of solidarity with medical staff it has also been confirmed in San Javier that the C-101 jet aircraft adorning the roundabout next to the Dos Mares shopping centre will be illuminated in green every night until the pandemic is declared to be over in Spain.
Remember: LOCKDOWN MEANS LOCKDOWN. STAY AT HOME. STAY SAFE AND DO YOUR BIT TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS.
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Our local area groups are as follows. These are designed to filter locally specific information and may be used by clubs, charities, any of the businesses who work with us to ensure information is available to residents in English and for those living in the specific areas. They are not buy and sell groups, do not accept any bickering or argumentative so and so's, are not "open for any old rubbish" pages, and are not trying to compete with your local comunity groups, they are specifically for sharing good, relevant local information and we hope you will use them for that during this difficult time.
Around Mazarrón news, events and local info: Click to join
Mazarrón, Fuente Álamo, Águilas, Lorca, Totana, Puerto Lumbreras, Camposol, Alhama de Murcia. Click to join (all within a half hour drive of each other)
Mar Menor news, events and local info. Click to join (this includes all the Mar Menor municipalities and Cartagena)
North-west Murcia: Bullas, Mula, Cehegin, Caravaca, Cieza, Calasparra, Jumilla, Moratalla info. Click to join
What to do if you are in the Region of Murcia and believe you may have contracted the virus
The regional government has set up a special helpline to supply information to members of the public (900 121212) if they suspect that they may have contracted the virus rather than going straight to hospital or to a medical centre.
Sensible precautions
The advice being issued to members of the public by medical authorities all over the world coincides on the following points:
- Wash hands frequently with either soap and water or a sanitiser gel
- Catch coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues – and throw the tissues away immediately after use before immediately washing your hands!
- If you don’t have a tissue, use your sleeve – and wash the item of clothing used at the next opportunity
- AVOID touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
- AVOID close contact with people who are unwell
- Don´t panic!
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