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Spain declares nationwide lockdown as coronavirus cases soar

spain coronavirus
Posted at 10:28 AM, Mar 14, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-14 10:28:13-04

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spain has decided to follow Italy in declaring a nationwide lockdown to slow the accelerating spread of the coronavirus epidemic.

Spain's decision Saturday came as European countries took ever more severe, though widely varying, measures to reduce contact between their citizens and slow the pandemic.

China — where the virus first emerged late last year — continued to ease up lockdown measures in its hardest-hit region.

Spain’s government planned to announce Saturday that it is placing tight restrictions on movement for the nation of 46 million people while declaring a two-week state of emergency.

The Associated Press saw a copy of the royal decree, shortly before Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was due to address the nation.