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Catalan president Quim Torra showed up the doubtful claims made by Spanish foreign minister, Arancha González, after her interview yesterday on the BBC, at which she assured that all Spanish people are confined at home, in what she described as "one of the hardest lockdowns in Europe", and ironically asked if the Catalan president was listening to her.

Torra refuted her statement with data and denied that the Spanish government had applied a total lockdown. "I’m perfectly listening to you. If 47 million Spaniards are supposed to be confined at their homes, how come non-public servants are going to work? I want all those workers (for their safety) confined at home - except for essential sectors".

The Spanish Foreign Affairs minister's declaration was a reply to Torra, who had himself been interviewed by the British public broadcaster the day before. The Catalan president's interview on the BBC caused nervousness in the Spanish government, and it was mentioned by as many as three ministers (Arancha González, the Spanish minister of Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Spanish Defence minister Margarita de Robles).

In his interview Torra emphasized that the Catalan Government, following the advice of experts and scientists, had asked to the Spanish government to declare a full lockdown of the Catalan territory, but that Pedro Sánchez's cabinet had answered that it was not necessary preferring to maintain all airports and harbours open.