Photos: Restrictions return in Spain as Covid-19 cases spike

Spain was one of the hardest hit countries in Europe by the coronavirus and has already suffered more than 28,000 fatalities, the fourth-highest tally in Europe after the UK, Italy and France. A national lockdown started in March had largely tamed the spread of Covid-19, but the easing of those restrictions and the start of the summer tourism season has contributed to an uptick, particularly among young people frequenting crowded bars and clubs. The region of Catalonia and its capital Barcelona have now brought back restrictions on nightlife as cases of infection appear to be rising.

Updated on: Jul 27, 2020 10:59 AM IST

News

Share via

• 
• 
• 

Copy link

• 

1/8

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Jul 27, 2020 10:59 AM

Police officers guard a barrier to stop people entering the beach in Barcelona on July 25. Famous for its football club, the city is also the capital of Catalonia in northeastern Spain, a region which is currently at the epicentre of a new spike in coronavirus cases. (Felipe Dana / AP)

2/8

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Jul 27, 2020 10:59 AM

People cool off at beach, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Calella, north of Barcelona on July 24. Catalonia now hosts two of the most worrying virus hot spots in Spain, prompting authorities to tighten restrictions in Barcelona and a rural area around Lleida that were relaxed only a month ago when Spain had its devastating outbreak in check. (Albert Gea / REUTERS)

3/8

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Jul 27, 2020 10:59 AM

People wearing face masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus gather in a discotheque in Madrid on July 25. However, in Barcelona, nightclubs have been ordered shut for two weeks and there is a midnight curfew imposed on bars. A partial lockdown affecting 200,000 people has been already imposed in the western district of Segria. (Manu Fernandez / AP)

4/8

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Jul 27, 2020 10:59 AM

A passenger queues to check-in at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat airport in Barcelona on July 26. Spain reported over 900 new daily infections on July 23 and 24 according to most recent data from the Spanish health ministry. The new outbreak prompted the UK on July 25 to reimpose quarantine on travellers returning from the country, dealing a new blow to its tourism dependent economy. (Albert Gea / REUTERS)

5/8

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Jul 27, 2020 10:59 AM

Travellers at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat airport on July 26. Norway on July 24 had announced a 10-day quarantine for people returning from Spain, and France issued travel warnings for the Catalonia region, which is home to Barcelona and popular beaches. The moves will further weigh on bookings in the peak travel period for a country dependent on tourism for around 10% of gross domestic product, according to Bloomberg. (Albert Gea / REUTERS)

6/8

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Jul 27, 2020 10:59 AM

People walk at night in Gracia neighborhood in Barcelona on July 24. Catalonia’s regional government, run by separatists who had complained about Spain’s centralization of the health crisis from March to June, is struggling to maintain tabs on the growing clusters that have overwhelmed undermanned contact tracing teams. (Felipe Dana / AP)

7/8

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Jul 27, 2020 10:59 AM

People gather outdoors at dusk on a viewpoint in Barcelona on July 25. While families and the at-risk elderly are mostly complying with rules to wear face masks and maintain a 1.5 metre distance from others, teenagers and young adults in many of Spain’s cities have been completely flouting the health rules and guidelines, AP reports. (Felipe Dana / AP)

8/8

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Jul 27, 2020 10:59 AM

A couple kisses as they sit by the sea in Barcelona on July 25. Countries around the Mediterranean Sea were banking on a glimpse of tourism to get economies through the summer before the cold snap drives people indoors and ushers in a second chapter to the pandemic. Now, it appears the virus may not wait for the winter months. (Felipe Dana / AP)