Date Published: 18/09/2020
ARCHIVED - Madrid introduces movement restrictions affecting 850,000 people
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
Nearly a million people will be mass-tested
Madrid once again finds itself in the eye of the storm as the turning circle of covid starts to spin out of control in the capital of Spain.
Regional president Isabel Día Ayuso has been under increasing pressure to declare a state of emergency this week, but today announced that she would increase restrictions and impose mobility limits in an attempt to avoid another lockdown of the city.
The president, together with the Health Minister and the vice president of the community, announced that more than 850,000 people (13% of the total population of Madrid) will be tested in 37 basic health areas and 8 municipalities, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
"We want to know who the sick are, isolate them and take care of them," Ayuso said.
Ayuso explained that most of the infections are occurring in the domestic environment and "this is one of the biggest problems we face, she said.
"We must avoid the state of alarm, but above all confinement, confinement is an economic disaster and it must be avoided by all means," said the Madrid president, at the press conference where she presented the new measurements.
Ayuso has announced that in these 37 health zones entry and exit will be restricted, except for basic services, such as employment and education, although residents are allowed to circulate within the perimeters. In addition, family gatherings are reduced from 10 to 6 and capacity in bars and restaurants is limited.
In the entire region, social gatherings are reduced to a maximum of 6 people. In addition, in the most affected areas, the capacity is reduced to 50% and entry and exit is restricted.
In the hospitalitysector, service at the bar is suspended (clients must remain seated at tables), occupancy is limited to six people per table and closing time is at 10 pm.
Parks and gardens will remain closed and places of worship will reduce their capacity by a third, among other measures.
These restrictive decisions, which will take effect as of Monday, September 21 at 00:00, will affect the following six districts and these neighborhoods belonging to each of them:
1. Carabanchel: Puerta Bonita, Vista Alegre and Guayaba
2. Usera: Almendrales, Las Calesas, Zofío, Orcasur and San Fermín.
3. Villaverde: San Andrés, San Cristóbal, El Espinillo and Los Rosales
4. Villa de Vallecas
5. Puente de Vallecas: Entrevías, Martínez de la Riva, San Diego, Numancia, Peña Prieta, Pozo del Tío Raimundo, Ángela Uriarte, Alcalá de Guadaira and Federica Montseny.
6. Ciudad Lineal: Doctor Cirajas, Ghandi, Daroca and La Elipa.
Municipalities affected
In addition to the districts of Madrid and their neighborhoods, the following 8 municipalities will also be affected by the measures:
1. Fuenlabrada
2. Humans
3. Getafe
4. Alcobendas
5. Moral of the Middle
6. Parla
7. San Sebastián de los Reyes
8. Madrid
These measures come into force on Monday and will last at least 14 days, after which the situation will be reassessed.
On Monday the regional president is meeting with Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez to discuss the situation in the city.
Enforcement
The Community of Madrid, which must request judicial ratification of its proposal, does not have an autonomous police force, so in order to enforce the restrictions will reinforce the presence of police agents in the affected areas, and will require the help of the City Councils ( with powers over the local police), the Government delegation (national police and civil guard), and even the Army.
"We intend to reduce the risk of transmission by reducing the contacts of each person", explained Enrique Ruiz-Escudero, Minister of Health, accepting that this had been a “very difficult decision”.