By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Two weeks ago, this website reported to keep an eye on Spain and the COVID-19 outbreak when the country reported 32 cases.

Spain map
Spain
Image/CIA

Today, Spanish health officials put the outbreak total at 5,753 cases, an increase of some 1,500 cases in 24 hours. The death toll is now at 136. (Johns Hopkins put the case count and deaths at 6,391 and 195).

Madrid account for nearly 3,000 (2,940) cases of the country total.

Following a path similar to Italy, the Government, meeting in an extraordinary Council of Ministers chaired by the President, Pedro Sánchez, has approved the declaration of a state of alarm throughout the national territory for a period of fifteen days, to face the health emergency situation caused by the coronavirus COVID-19 in Spain.

The government is placing tight restrictions on movements and closing restaurants and other establishments over this period.

“From now we enter into a new phase,” Sanchez said. “We won’t hesitate in doing what we need to beat the virus. We are putting health first.”

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