Catalonia demands extension of total lockdown

The Catalan government has urged Spain to extend the total lockdown beyond April 9, which is the last day for the measure currently in place as initially set by the Spanish government.

In fact, Pedro Sánchez's cabinet plans to allow workers in non-essential services to work from next week. From March 30 to this Thursday, only those working in the health, food, banks, insurance, and media sectors are permitted to leave home to carry out their work.

The Catalan government spokesperson, Meritxell Budó, said on Wednesday during the daily press conference that there is "uncertainty" concerning what will happen next week and criticized the fact that Madrid has not entirely clarified who will be allowed to work in the coming days.

"There is uncertainty over how the confinement relaxation will unfold, whether it will be gradual or not, and which sectors will be able to return to work," she said.

"Planning will be essential. Poor planning could lead to a second total lockdown."

According to her, 1 million workers in Catalonia would be forced to leave home to work next week if the ban is lifted.

In the same press conference, the Catalan interior minister Miquel Buch said that when confinement measures were loosened in Italy, the number of Covid-19 cases went up again.

The Catalan government's stance on Wednesday is on the same page as that which President Torra shared in the regional presidents' meeting with Spain's leader, Pedro Sánchez, on Sunday.