ARCHIVED - Cultural and sporting program decimated in the city of Murcia as coronavirus lockdown begins

Residents in the regional capital prepare to sit out the coronavirus crisis

The atmosphere in the city of Murcia on Thursday morning is hard to describe, as people go about their daily business with an air of resignation in the realization that their routines are being changed almost beyond recognition by the expansion of the coronavirus pandemic.

For many residents of Murcia Thursday morning usually means a visit to the huge street market in La Fama, but on Wednesday the Town Hall announced that all weekly street markets are being suspended until further notice. This is just one of a series of steps announced with the intention of limiting the occasions on which large numbers of people gather in one place, other including the closures of the city’s “Centros de Mujer”, day centres for the elderly and all of the auditoriums and theatres managed by the city council.

Indoor food markets such are to remain open, for the time being at least, although with additional hygiene and food handling requirements in the light of the expansion of the Covid-19 crisis.

Other victims of the crisis in Murcia include concert cycles such as the classical Sottovoce Murcia festival and the revived Murcia Jazz Festival, which was scheduled to take place in the regional capital for the first time in many years, while all activities at the 54 cultural centres in the municipality are also postponed indefinitely. Also postponed are the Fiesta del Río, part of the forthcoming Semana de la Huerta schedule, the Marea Rock festival which had been inked in for 14th March at the La Fica fairground and the Izal concerts on 20th and 21st March in the Cuartel de Artillería.

In addition, it appears that the annual Easter Week and Semana de la Primavera celebrations in the city will inevitably be affected, and the election of the “Reinas de la Huerta” – the queens of the fiestas in the week after Easter – has been postponed from 14^th to 29^th March. Similarly, the brotherhoods which organize the Semana Santa events have announced the cancellation of all events programmed during Lent, including the Via Crucis which was to be held on Friday 13^th March in the cathedral.

Further measures include the cancellation of all events at three “Espacios Jóvenes” which attract more than 25 attendees and the Fiesta del Deporte on 28th and 29^th March, and even weddings held in the Town Hall are from now on limited to only 25 attendees.

In short, it seems to be only a matter of time before schools also announce their closure as well, and shops, restaurants and other businesses are already considering closing their doors. After all, the regional government advises against the holding of events attended by more than 50 people, and many classrooms contain 30 people enclosed in a small space at the same time – the situation in school corridors and dining rooms certainly exceeds the limit.

Many people appear unable to resist the temptation to indulge in panic buying and various supermarket shelves were practically empty on Wednesday evening for the first time since the gota fría storm of last September, but this time there was an important difference: in September the shortages were due to the impossibility of supplies reaching Murcia due to heavy flooding, but this week the problem is simply that the suppliers cannot keep up with the level of demand as shoppers envisage shutting themselves in their homes for the next few weeks.

The latest news on Thursday morning was that 22 cases of coronavirus had been confirmed in the Region of Murcia, the figure having doubled during the day.  

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

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 22 – 6 new cases reported on Wednesday morning and another 5 in the afternoon, including two in whom the virus was contracted within the Region of Murcia.

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!

Image: José Ballesta, the Mayor of Murcia, announcing the latest coronavirus measures on Wednesday evening