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Spain controls foreign arrivals and studies easing restrictions in Madrid

Spain began this Friday, May 15, 2020 at control the arrival of people from the Foreign at their airports, taking their temperature and commining them to 14 days of quarantine, to avoid a regrowth of the covid-19 that left 138 dead in the last 24 hours.

The referral of the pandemic allows about half of those 47 million Spaniards enjoy from Monday May 18 a more relaxed confinement, with open bar terraces and allowed family gatherings, which the Ministry of Health could expand this Friday in other regions.

Among these lagging areas are the two most important cities, Madrid and Barcelona, whose respective regional governments claimed the lifting of some restrictions.

According to data from the Ministry of Health, this Friday, May 15, 138 new deaths due to coronavirus, one of the lowest figures in recent weeks. The total of deaths stands at 27,459 people and the diagnosed cases exceeded 230,000.

64% of these new deceased occurred in the regions of Madrid and Catalonia, where Barcelona is located.

“The risk of regrowth it exists ”and in some parts of the territory it could be“ very important ”, warned the director of health emergencies, Dr. Fernando Simón.

Spain, one of the hardest hit countries for him coronavirus, applied since mid-March one of the strictest confinements of Europe which will be phased up until the end of June, during which time the travels interregional.

Airport control

To avoid “inconsistencies” in this process and possible outbreaks from abroad, the authorities imposed from this Friday 14 days quarantine to the passengers from abroad, who can only go outside with a mask for essential activities.

In addition, the government authorized five airports input for international travelers (Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Mallorca, Gran Canaria and Malaga) and eight ports.

Some images released by the Spanish government showed how at Madrid-Barajas airport they practiced controls of temperature travelers and were made to fill out a form.

According to the radio station Cadena Ser, the Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, the authorities ask passengers “where they will be, either residing or staying (…) and a contact number in order to be located” .

His ministry also extended until June 15 the entry ban for all foreigners who do not go to their usual place of residence, except for cross-border workers, diplomatic and health personnel or carriers.

Controversy around Madrid

Internally, the Ministry of Health decides this Friday what lagging territories can advance in de-escalated of the restrictions, such as Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Valencia or Malaga.

“The discussions are still going on at this time, I don’t think until this afternoon we will have the final decision,” said Dr. Simón.

The lack of confidence of the capital became a political war between the socialist government of Pedro Sánchez and the conservatives of the Popular Party, who govern the region.

“Madrid is perfectly for it”, defended the regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso, who already claimed unsuccessfully the previous week to move to the next phase, which allows the opening of terraces and hotels and the meetings of ten people.

The capital celebrated this Friday May 15 its patronal feast San Isidro, clouded by the pandemic. In a small act, the city council awarded the city gold medal to a doctor representing its 3.3 million citizens, whom they recognized for their “exemplary” behavior these weeks.

In Barcelona, the Catalan regional government only asked for a limited relief of the confinement, allowing the small business to operate without an appointment but still maintaining the closure of terraces and hotels and the prohibition of holding meetings between family and friends.

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