The Catalan government has imposed a state of lockdown on the population of the Catalan city of Igualada, 60 km inland from Barcelona, due to the coronavirus outbreak that has been detected there. Around 70,000 residents are affected by the restrictions, put in place after a cluster of Covid-19 infections was detected centred on Igualada Hospital. Three elderly hospital patients infected in this outbreak have died.
After midnight Thursday, residents can neither enter nor leave the town. From Friday morning, trucks supplying food and basic necessities will be able to enter the municipality. They will have permeable access so as not to leave the population isolated and without essentials.
The measure also affects several municipalities surrounding the city: Santa Margarida de Montbui, Vilanova del Camí and Òdena. Along with Igualada, these towns also closed their schools today Thursday. Generalised school closures throughout Catalonia to combat the spread of the virus begin on Friday and will last for a minimum of 15 days.
The lockdown will be enforced by the Catalan police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra, with checkpoints at the accesses to Igualada.
The active coronavirus outbreak in the city is focused on the city's large public hospital, with three people having died and around 50 so far having tested to the virus. The outbreak is centred in particular on 200 hospital professionals who have been tested this Thursday to find out if they are carriers of the virus. Visits to the hospital have been restricted and all staff, both health and administrative, are wearing face masks.