Spain declares State of Alarm in Madrid

MADRID, Oct 10 (Xinhua): The Spanish government on Friday decreed a 15-day State of Alarm with immediate effect for the Madrid region to limit the spread of coronavirus.

The decision was taken in an emergency cabinet meeting called 24 hours after a Madrid court had struck down a government order that imposed restrictions on mobility in the Madrid municipality and nine other municipalities in the region, arguing that limiting movement infringed "fundamental" rights.

At a press conference held after the cabinet meeting, Health Minister Salvador Illa explained that "last week 63 people died of COVID-19 in the Community of Madrid. Currently 3,369 people are in hospital in the Community of Madrid, 498 of them are in intensive care fighting for their lives."

The State of Alarm re-imposes mobility restrictions on around five million inhabitants in the region and retains the limit of 50 percent occupancy in bars, restaurants and gymnasiums. A maximum of six people are allowed to meet in public or private.