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
-
Ghana loses over GH¢4.5bn annually to traffic congestion, new study on urban mobility shows
7 minutes -
ADB unveils new corporate cloth, determines to dominate industry
16 minutes -
Peak Milk extends Ramadan support following courtesy visit to national Chief ImamÂ
23 minutes -
No solo bid for Ken Agyapong — Joojo Rocky Obeng dismisses ‘third force’ calls as politically ridiculous
27 minutes -
Today’s Front pages: Friday, February 13, 2026
1 hour -
5 arrested for open defecation at Osu Cemetery
1 hour -
A Home that Travels: How the Diaspora carries Pan-Africanism across borders
1 hour -
Obituary: Hon. Stanley Basil Bade Carboo
2 hours -
Government to absorb COCOBOD’s $150m losses as Cabinet directs immediate cocoa purchases – Finance Ministry
2 hours -
Mpraeso MP demands immediate probe and arrest over alleged exploitation of young Ghanaian women
2 hours -
‘No bed syndrome,’ and how a hit-and-run victim was refused emergency care by Ridge, Police, Korle Bu hospitals for close to 3 hours before he died
2 hours -
Give Love a second chance on Valentine’s Day – Counsellor PerfectÂ
2 hours -
GSS generates the numbers that drive national development – Government Statistician Dr Iddrisu
3 hours -
We are not policy advisers, we generate the data – Government Statistician clarifies GSS’ role
3 hours -
Golden Jubilee Sports Festival opens with call for discipline, unity
4 hours