Sanchez to call 2nd state of alarm on Sunday

Pedro Sanchez will call a nationwide state of alarm, allowing Spain’s 17 autonomous communities to implement localised emergency measures to fight COVID-19.

Spain’s president will open a judicial door for the country’s 17 autonomous communities to legally call curfews – among other emergency health measures – in their regional territories.

Sanchez was originally planning to call a special meeting with regional presidents – and declare a state of alarm – on Tuesday.

However major Spanish newspapers, such as El Pais, have reported the meeting will be held tomorrow, Sunday.

It comes as the following regions have requested Sanchez for permission to call a curfew already:

• Basque Country
• Cataluña
• Cantabria
• Asturias
• Extremadura
• La Rioja
• Navarra
• Castilla-La Mancha
• Valencian Community

Valencian Community president Ximo Puig yesterday unilaterally declared a curfew across provinces Alicante, Valencia and Castellón.

He called it in the absence of any judicial support: read more here.

It also follows Thursday’s approval of a four-tier coronavirus alert system, based on clear health criteria.

The Valencian Community is currently on ‘level 2’ risk – or medio – with new rules to follow. Currently, there are no travel restrictions in the Valencian Community unlike other regions.

Read more about the four-tier system here.

Readers may remember the political infighting over lockdown in Madrid in September – there, the national government called a regional state of alarm to push forwards special measures to fight COVID-19.

A previous lockdown had been thrown out of court, causing immense instability during the novel coronavirus ‘second wave’.

More to follow…