TheCable

Spain has restricted residents from leaving their homes, except to buy essential supplies, medicines, or for work.

The national lock down was declared as part of a two-week state of emergency following 2000 new coronavirus cases and over 100 deaths in 24 hours.

Essential services like banks and petrol stations will, however, remain open. Schools across the country have already been shut.

The surge in number of infected people brings the death toll to 288 with over 7,753 confirmed cases.

Spain is Europe’s second worst-hit country after Italy.

On Saturday, Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, tested positive for the virus.

Sánchez appealed for unity, calling on all regions to put ideological differences aside while putting citizens first.

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

“We will [eventually] return to the routine of our jobs and again visit our friends and loved ones. Until that time comes, let’s not waste energies that are essential now. Let’s not lose our way.

“I want to tell the workers, the self-employed and businesses that the government of Spain is going to do everything in its power to cushion the effects of this crisis.”