Spanish Minister hints Spain’s lockdown may last longer than 15 days to win battle against Coronavirus

Spain’s Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, José Luis Ábalos, has hinted earlier today that the ‘State of Alarm’ will probably last longer than 15 days. “Two weeks is just not sufficient to win the battle against Coronavirus,” he stated.

He said the Government will probably have to look for ways to ‘prolongue’ citizen house-arrest’. Spain’s 15-day lockdown restricts the public to being confined in their homes, unless it’s for urgent purposes, like going to work/medical centres, caring for an elderly/vulnerable family member, or for buying essentials like food/medicines. However, the Spanish Government has said it will wait before considering any further extension to the State of Alarm.

Ábalos also believes that tougher measures are needed to curb the spread of the virus and that Europe will have to consider shutting down borders. “Closing the borders is a real possibility if we are to contain the Coronavirus, and prevent further spread,” he added.