Audio By Carbonatix
The Spanish government has ordered a 15-day state of emergency to bring down Covid-19 infection rates in the capital, after a court overturned a partial lockdown imposed a week ago.
Madrid and nine nearby cities will see restrictions on movement enforced.
The capital has been at the centre of a political row, with the centre-right city authorities challenging the Socialist government's demands.
Cases are down and a state of emergency is unjustified, say city officials.
Madrid health minister Enrique Ruiz Escudero insisted that measures already in place were working and that the national government order was "a measure no Madrileño will understand".
Late last Friday, all non-essential movement in and out of Madrid and the other nine cities was banned, despite the opposition of local authorities.
When their court challenge was successful on Thursday night, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez decided to move quickly, ahead of a holiday weekend, with Spaniards celebrating their national day on Monday.
Latest Stories
-
Okudzeto Ablakwa renews calls for borderless Africa to tackle xenophobia
2 minutes -
Ablakwa condemns xenophobic attacks in South Africa, calls for stronger African unity
11 minutes -
Ablakwa condemns xenophobic attacks, says Ghana welcomed over 11,000 South African tourists in 2025
13 minutes -
The BoG Debate: Using the wrong marking scheme for the right answers
19 minutes -
Rev. Ntim Fordjour says 31 amendments to Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill weaken enforcement
24 minutes -
Porn ID proposal may be an attempt to divert attention from anti-LGBTQ+ bill demands — Ntim Fordjour
1 hour -
Protection of children must remain central to porn verification debate — Bernard Baidoo
1 hour -
Kofi Bentil opposes proposed porn ID verification, warns against ‘morality police’
2 hours -
Livestream: Newsfile discusses Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, porn ID law, June floods and court case on security chiefs
2 hours -
Peeva Beverages becomes Medeama’s official beverage sponsor in one-year deal
2 hours -
Makers and Partners advocates for more tree planting to mitigate flood risk
4 hours -
MomsConnectGH marks Mental Health Awareness Day and Mother’s Day with donation to Accra Psychiatric Hospital
4 hours -
Iran World Cup players granted visas to enter the US, says White House official
5 hours -
Now that kidnapping has become an industry…, by Adekunle Adekoya
5 hours -
Old students’ association breaks silence over Kumasi Academy arson threats
5 hours