Barcelona Fears Re-containment in the Face of Coronavirus Rebound

(Barcelona) "A disaster", laments Maria Quintana, contemplating the empty terrace of her bar, opposite the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, ​​the second city of Spain called, in the heart of summer, to confine itself once again in the face of a resurgence of the coronavirus.

"Even though we were just starting to notice a small recovery and the presence of a few foreign tourists, it's a step backwards", laments the restaurateur of 35 years from inside his small establishment.

Saturday, facing the unfinished basilica of the Sagrada Familia, one of the most visited monuments in Spain, tourists counted on the fingers of the hand, most ignoring the new measures announced the day before by authorities.

Almost 4 million inhabitants of the Barcelona agglomeration are called to "stay at home" to slow the resumption of the COVID epidemic - 18 and try to avoid a new mandatory confinement.

The number of coronavirus cases has indeed almost tripled in one week in Barcelona, ​​with approximately 400 Cases detected against less than 90 the previous week.

PHOTO JOSEP LAGO, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

A municipal employee cleans a public bench in Place de la Catalogne.

"A guillotine"

Beyond this call to stay at home, the regional government announced the closure of cinemas, theaters or nightclubs, the ban on gatherings of more than 10 people and visits to retirement homes or limited capacity 'welcome to 50% in bars and restaurants.

In Maria's bar, the stools have been removed as it is now forbidden to serve customers. On the terrace, the tables are widely spaced to maintain a safe distance, but there are no customers.

"If the authorities re-impose confinement and force us to close, I will lower the curtain but with my neck below, like a guillotine, because we cannot survive," insists Maria Quintana.

Karolina Kapounova, a Czech tourist from 23 Years old, sweats behind his mask, compulsory in public spaces in the majority of Spanish regions.

"With the heat, it's a bit disturbing," she says.

"We didn't know, although it's true that there aren't many people in the streets. But I don't think we're going to change our plans, "assures the young tourist.

350 00 0 vehicles left the city

"We see a few tourists, but they are few. And then they come and find out that the Sagrada Familia is closed, that the tourist bus is not working... ", explains Joan Lopez, owner of a kiosk in front of the basilica.

"People don't listen to the recommendations. Today, the city seems empty but because yesterday they left for the weekend. [...] People left the city before we were locked up there, "he exclaims.

While the regional government had asked the Barcelonians not to leave the city, the traffic services recorded the departure of 350 00 0 vehicles to neighboring coastal areas.

"It is a mistake," warned the director of the regional coronavirus monitoring committee, Dr. Jacobo Mendioroz, on Catalan radio. "The next step is home containment," he continued.

Spain, one of the countries most affected by the pandemic with more than 28 400 dead, had imposed very strict confinement in mid-March .

Olga Torres, who is cooling off on the terrace with a friend, hopes not to come to that.

"It is not funny to imagine that they will confine us again, but I believe that they will think twice because economically, it would be a massacre", underlines this woman of 55 years.

Criticism against the separatist Catalan government, competent in health matters, is increasing and pointing to its lack of preparation for the pandemic. For months, Quim Torra's government condemned the Spanish executive's handling of the pandemic, suggesting that if Catalonia were independent they would have done better.

"Poor management leads us to a new confinement", insisted on Saturday the editorial of the Catalan daily

Ara , close to the separatists.