ARCHIVED - Coronavirus closes all schools in the Region of Murcia as of Monday 16th March

The regional government confirms its “·difficult and brave” decision

Please follow Murcia Today on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest updates locally for the Region of Murcia and the main information for the rest of Spain: https://www.facebook.com/MurciaToday/. Please note, Facebook is limiting the number of posts we are able to make in local groups, and the sheer volume of incoming information is overwhelming, so all updates and cancellations of events etc in the Murcia region will be posted on this main page and may not be shared into many local groups. PLEASE help to support the flow and sharing of information by following this page and sharing the information into groups to which you have access.

Just an hour after the regional government of Murcia dismissed claims that it was about to close down all schools in response to the spread of the coronavirus, Javier Celdrán, speaking on behalf of the government, announced that the measure will in fact be implemented as of Monday 16^th March.

Throughout Thursday morning there had been indications that an announcement of this nature was on the cards as schools informed parents of more and measures to protect the pupils’ health, and following a meeting of the regional cabinet Sr Celdrán speared before members of the press to confirm that the “difficult and brave” move had been decided on.

So rapid has been the spread of alarm in the Region of Murcia in recent days that the first case was confirmed in Murcia only last weekend, but now normal life is to be disrupted for any families with children. The suspension of classes applies not only to primary and secondary education but also to the three universities in the Region.

Schools have already been closed in the region of Madrid, in Galicia and in La Rioja, and the whole of the Basque Country will also follow suit after centres in and around the city of Vitoria have been closed for the last few days. Catalunya is reported to be on the point of implementing similar measures, and it would be no surprise if the suspension of classes were to spread to almost the whole country over the next few days.

There have now been 29 cases of coronavirus confirmed in Murcia with one patient in intensive care.

At present it has been confirmed that 22 patients have been diagnosed with COvid-19 in the Region of Murcia.

Please follow Murcia Today on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest updates locally for the Region of Murcia and the main information for the rest of Spain: https://www.facebook.com/MurciaToday/. Please note, Facebook is limiting the number of posts we are able to make in local groups, and the sheer volume of incoming information is overwhelming, so all updates and cancellations of events etc in the Murcia region will be posted on this main page and may not be shared into many local groups. PLEASE help to support the flow and sharing of information by following this page and sharing the information into groups to which you have access.

Click here for the latest official figures regarding the coronavirus epidemic in Spain and the measures implemented by the national and regional governments.

First patients diagnosed with Covid-19 in Murcia

1 - A 27-year-old woman who contracted the virus in Madrid while attending the ARCO contemporary arts fair. In isolation at home.

2 and 3 - A 5-month-old baby and her mother, both of whom had travelled to and from Madrid by bus, returning to Totana. In the Arrixaca hospital in El Palmar.

4 – A 28-year-old friend of the first patient who lives in Valencia but had gone to Madrid with her friend and was diagnosed positive in Murcia. In isolation at home.

5 – A woman who also contracted the virus in Madrid. In isolation at home.

6 and 7 – Two men aged 70 and 26 who were infected in Madrid. In isolation at home.

8 – A man who is believed to have contracted the virus from a contact in Alicante, who originally contracted the virus in Madrid.

9 - A 40-year-old woman with "mild "symptoms who is believed to have contracted the virus in Madrid.

10 – Female Erasmus student who returned from Italy to Cartagena.

11 – Unidentified female patient who was infected in Madrid.

12 to 29 – further details to be added in due course

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), and also urges people to call the 112 emergency services line if they suspect that they may have contracted the virus rather than going straight to hospital or to a medical centre. Medical staff will be sent to your home to test for the virus.

The Region’s public hospitals have limited the number of visitors to just one per patient.

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!