Lockdown
Growth rates and the doubling time of the infection in the early phase,
indicated that Spain and other European countries, needed extra
containment measures to handle the situation. Physical distancing,
quarantine, isolation, lockdown and curfew were considered all over.
On March 14, 2020, the Spanish government declared the State of
Alarm , the legal enforcement to stop the constant flow of people (10).
The previous day, 7,923 new cases had been reported. This was despite
repeated warnings from the European Centres for Disease Prevention and
Control on the high risk of transmission (11). Instead, the Spanish
Government promoted a large demonstration in the capital city of Madrid
(1). Other large gatherings were organized by different political
parties in Madrid and other Autonomous Communities (CC. AA.). Of impact
was also a large demonstration in the C.A. of Catalonia, with transfer
of over 150,000 people across the French border who in the same day
exposed the population of two countries. During this period, all
non-essential professional activities were suspended. The only
businesses that have remained open were pharmacies and basic food
businesses. The freedom of movement of people was severely curtailed
with drastic restrictions applied to public and private transport.
Congress approved the State of Alarm , and during its validity,
the national government assumed the management of the national health
system, in the form of a single command, taking over from the 17 CC. AA.
This period was extended up to six times by decision of Congress,
remaining in force until June 21 (12).