Coronavirus: Wife of Spanish PM tests positive as country goes into lockdown
British citizens advised against all but essential travel to Spain amid outbreak
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The wife of Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez has tested positive for coronavirus as the country goes into lockdown.
Begona Gomez and the prime minister are in good health, Spain's government said. Two ministers of Mr Sanchez's cabinet had already tested positive for the virus earlier this week.
It comes as Spain has implemented a lockdown similar to the one already imposed in Italy.
Mr Sanchez used a national televised address to announce the exceptional measures his government will put in place during a two-week state of emergency to combat the rise in infections.
Authorities said the number of infections had climbed past 5,700, half of them in Madrid alone, since the first case was detected in late January.
That represents an increase of more than 1,500 in 24 hours.
On Sunday, the British government advised its citizens against all but essential travel to Spain amid the outbreak. It said transport services to the country will be operating at reduced levels.
Planes turned around in mid-air after Jet2 cancelled all flights to Spain on Saturday as the country prepared to lockdown over the coronavirus outbreak.
People in Spain are now only allowed to leave their homes to buy food and medicine, commute to work, go to hospitals and banks, or take trips to care for the young and elderly.
All schools and universities are closed, along with restaurants, bars and hotels in Spain - which is Europe's second worst-affected country after Italy.
"From now we enter into a new phase," Mr Sanchez said. "We won't hesitate in doing what we must to beat the virus. We are putting health first."
Additional reporting by agencies
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments