An entire Spanish town has been completely isolated to stop the spread of coronavirus despite nobody being hospitalised with the virus in the whole town.
The measures have been ordered to be put in place at the town of Aranda de Duero in the province of Burgos, Spain, as of today (Friday) and will see residents prevented from leaving the town and visitors are banned from entering.
Although there are no residents hospitalised with COVID-19 in the town, the authorities of Castilla y Leon, the Autonomous Community which Aranda de Duero belongs to, have decreed the closure of the town.
According to the Spanish newspaper El Periodico, residents were surprised by the move as there is no one hospitalised with COVID-19 in the town and most of the positives are asymptomatic. (https://bit.ly/2C5Md8a)
Since last Monday, massive tests have been carried out thanks to a COVID car, capable of carrying out up to 200 tests a day, the same newspaper reported.
According to the newspaper 20 Minutos, as of Thursday (6th August) the town of 32,000 inhabitants had 199 positives for COVID-19. (https://bit.ly/3a1s9Av)
A press statement from the Junta de Castilla y Leon obtained by Real Press said: “The free entry and exit of people in the municipality of Aranda de Duero (Burgos) is restricted, except for those movements which are duly justified.” (https://bit.ly/30B3fEL)
Businessmen, hoteliers and citizens in general have expressed their discomfort at the measure that occurs during the peak tourism season for summer.
Chef Sandra Chicote told El Periodico: “I have already had six cancellations. And to all those who call trying to book, I have to ask them if they are from outside (Aranda de Duero) and cannot let them book, because they are not going to let them in.”
According to the Spanish newspaper ABC, as soon as the news was released, dozens of local residents went to the bus station to try to leave the city.
Locals and businessmen seem to be very concerned about the economic impact that isolation brings.
Santiago Vegas, owner of a gastronomic products shop, told El Periodico: “I bought a lot of products for Easter and I had to throw away most of them because they confined us. And now, the same. When August is our best month. I don’t know how we are going to recover.”
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Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub-Editor: Alex Cope, Agency: Real Press
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