Spain nationalizes private hospitals to guarantee care against the coronavirus.

From RF1 – What was a suggestion a few days ago has become mandatory for the 47 million Spaniards. The movement of people is prohibited throughout Spain, except for going to work, buying food or medicine, going to hospitals or banks, or caring for the elderly and children. The recommendation is that those who can do so should work remotely from their homes.

It will not be possible to visit a friend or have a coffee, for example, and people will not be allowed to go out accompanied. Only short walks with dogs are permitted. Supermarkets or food stores, bakeries, laundromats, opticians, and gas stations are the only establishments that can operate, but they must adhere to social distancing protocols.

Initially, hair salons were allowed to open to serve people with special needs, but the government eventually amended the decree and established that only home service is permitted.

These measures came into effect on Saturday (14) and will last, in principle, 15 days, although they may be extended for another two weeks, with the approval of Congress.

The behavior of the Spanish.

The Spanish are obeying the lockdown decreed by the government and Almost all the streets in the country are empty.There were some exceptions, such as Madrid residents who fled the city to settle in their beach houses or tourists, mainly from the United Kingdom. They resisted accepting the end of their holidays and had to be removed from the streets.

In Barcelona, ​​around 300 bars and nightclubs defied restrictions and were forced to close. The reduction in international flights arriving and departing from the country also caused an influx of tourists at airports trying to return home.

But the coronavirus crisis also reveals signs of solidarity: some hotels are offering their facilities to accommodate those with less severe cases, doctors are providing free consultations, volunteers are helping the elderly or caring for children who have no one to stay with at home because their parents are working. Furthermore, citizens confined throughout Spain are going out onto their balconies to applaud healthcare professionals in gratitude for the essential work they are doing during the coronavirus crisis.

Culture, in turn, also embraces the restrictions and offers a range of online activities such as theater, cinema, and concerts through social media.

Alert state control

State security forces, both civilian and military, are on the streets to ensure compliance with the restrictions, and those who disobey may be punished with up to four years in prison and fines ranging from €600 to €30 (approximately R$3 to R$150), depending on the severity of the infraction.

The Spanish prime minister centralized command of the crisis by appointing four ministers to make decisions in the areas of Defense, Interior, Transport, and Health, in coordination with regional councilors.

All the presidents of the regions of Spain signed the agreement to manage the coronavirus crisis, except for the Catalan president, Quim Torra, who had already asked the Spanish government to close the borders of Catalonia, arguing that the measures taken by the Spanish government were insufficient to combat Covid-19.

Although Pedro Sánchez did not rule out closing the borders across the country, he postponed the decision in order to meet with other European countries and define the necessary measures in a coordinated manner.

Situation in hospitals

Public hospitals are beginning to experience problems with the sanitary materials and equipment needed to treat serious cases. Anticipating a collapse of the public health system, the Spanish government has intervened in the private healthcare system of the autonomous communities so that the councilors of each region can have access to private healthcare infrastructure to combat the epidemic.

Military hospitals will also be under the orders of the Ministry of Health, and reserve military doctors, as well as beds in field hospitals, will be made available for the crisis. On the other hand, the government announced the massive hiring of resident doctors to improve care.

More than 30 tests have already been carried out in the country. The Minister of Health informed that all people who need to be tested will be able to take the test, but also acknowledged that given the evolution of infections, it will be necessary to increase service using more agile procedures.

Transportation

Public road, rail, and air transport for long and medium distances will be reduced by 50%. The Renfe railway company has reduced its capacity by a third to maintain the necessary space between users and to minimize the risk of contagion among passengers, operators, and other workers.

King Felipe VI renounces his inheritance.

While Spain is paralyzed, King Felipe VI announced that he is renouncing his inheritance related to his father's businesses, as well as any investment or financial structure whose origin, characteristics, or purpose are not in accordance with the law. The monarch also said that his father, Juan Carlos, will no longer receive the allowance established by his position as former head of state in the Royal Household budget.

This bombshell announcement, in the midst of an extraordinary health crisis, is a consequence of information published in the English newspaper Telegraph linking the king's father to a foundation that allegedly received €100 million from Saudi Arabia as a commission for the construction of the high-speed train by Spanish companies.