ARCHIVED - Spain closes its land borders to foreigners from midnight as coronavirus deaths climb

Measures to halt the spread of the coronavirus continue to be intensified

Having first consulted by video conference with his counterparts throughout the EU, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Spain’s Minister for the Interior, has announced that controls will be reinstated at the country’s land borders as of midnight on Monday as responses to the coronavirus crisis are upgraded.

The only Spanish land border remaining fully open on Monday was the one shared with France in the Pyrenees and alongside the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, following Portugal’s decision to close its borders at least until Easter. In the north African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla the frontiers with Morocco are extremely heavily protected and policed.

Sr Grande-Marlaska had already hinted that the reintroduction of border controls was on the cards earlier on Monday, and as measures to halt the spread of Covid-19 are stepped up not only within Spain but also throughout Europe the implications for the travel and tourism sector become longer-lasting and more widespread. A number of airlines have already cancelled or reduced their flights to and from Spain, and both Portugal and Germany have effectively closed their borders to civilian movements (although goods are still being freely transported).

Only Spanish nationals, residents and cross-frontier workers will be permitted to enter Spain or non-Spanish nationals for reasons of force majeure or emergencies, or merchant goods. This is to enable the rapid transit of goods and minimise the risk of contagion.

At the same time the EU is considering closing the borders of the entire European Community. This unprecedented step would require the agreement of all of the Heads of State and the national governments but so rapidly is the situation developing that it may well come about in the very near furture.

The closure of Spain's borders comes at the end of a day which by lunchtime had seen the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Spain rise to 9,191 with over 300 fatalities, and more sharp increases expected before the effects of citizens being confined to their homes begin to be noticed - next week at the earliest, according to most experts. 

Image: Fernando Grande-Marlaska announcing the decision on Monday afternoon

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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!