Spain

Central Spain records temperatures of -25C after snowstorm

Officials have warned the elderly to stay at home.

At least seven people have died due to the weather - the two latest victims were homeless people in Barcelona.

The temperature plunged to -25C (-13F) in Molina de Aragón and Teruel, in mountains east of Madrid - Spain's coldest night for at least 20 years.

Deep snow left by Storm Filomena has turned to ice, disrupting transport. There has been an extraordinary quantity of snow and ice for Spain, where winters are usually quite mild.

     

Spain races to clear snow before temperatures drop

As much as 50cm (20 inches) of snow fell on Madrid, one of the worst hit areas, between Friday night and Saturday.

At least four people died and thousands of travellers were left stranded.

Forecasters have warned temperatures could plunge overnight on Sunday, turning the snow to perilous ice.

The Spanish government said it had taken extra steps - including police-escorted convoys - to ensure its expected shipment of some 300,000 coronavirus vaccines can be distributed as planned to regional health authorities on Monday.

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Spain drives fears of European 'second wave'

Catalonia has closed its nightlife for two weeks but cities outside the north-eastern region are also seeing a surge.

France, which has seen a rise too, has issued a travel warning and Norway is quarantining arrivals from Spain.

Germany has also hit a two-month high on new infections, as nations grapple between staving off fresh outbreaks and reopening economies.

Travellers returning to the UK from Spain will have to quarantine for 14 days from Sunday, the BBC understands.

Spain welcomes tourists back as emergency ends

For three months Spain has been under one of Europe's toughest lockdowns to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned that hygiene controls must be observed strictly, despite the easing.

Spain's Covid-19 death toll stands at 28,322 - the third-highest in the EU.

The state of emergency was decreed on 14 March, and for several weeks people could not go out to exercise and children were not allowed to leave their homes for any reason.

Belgian Prince Joachim tests positive after lockdown party

Prince Joachim, 28, travelled from Belgium to Spain for an internship on 26 May, the palace said.

Two days later, he went to a party in the southern city of Córdoba, before testing positive for Covid-19.

Spanish reports suggest the prince, a nephew of Belgium's King Philippe, was among 27 people at the party.

Under Córdoba's lockdown rules, a party of this size would be a breach of regulations, as gatherings of no more than 15 people are currently permitted.

Spain to stop quarantining arrivals from 1 July

It said the measure had been finalised in a cabinet meeting on Monday.

Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya had previously said the requirement would be lifted in July, without giving a date.

The news comes as the UK government prepares to bring in its own 14-day quarantine policy from 8 June.

Travel firms and other industry bodies say the UK should relax the measure for visitors arriving from countries where people are at a lower risk of contracting the coronavirus.

Coronavirus: Spanish PM promises to ease confinement of children

Now Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez aims to relax the rule on 27 April so they can "get some fresh air".

Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, who has young children herself, this week pleaded with the government to allow children outside.

Spain has seen more than 20,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic and almost 200,000 reported cases.

In a televised briefing on Saturday evening, Mr Sánchez said Spain had left behind "the most extreme moments and contained the brutal onslaught of the pandemic".

Coronavirus: Deaths fall in Italy and Spain introduces tougher measures

Fewer deaths in Italy but restrictions look set to be extended

There have been 756 deaths in Italy in the last day, bringing the total to 10,779 - more than a third of all deaths from the virus worldwide.

There were 133 fewer deaths than the 889 deaths reported on Saturday, when the numbers fell from a record high of 919 on Friday.

While the total number of confirmed cases rose to 97,689 on Sunday from a previous 92,472, it was the lowest daily rise in new cases since Wednesday.

Coronavirus: Spain’s death toll surpasses China’s

The number of deaths has risen by 738 in just 24 hours to a total of 3434 - a record spike for Spain.

By comparison, China has officially reported 3285 deaths, while Italy - the worst affected country - has 6820.

Spain's prime minister will later ask MPs to extend his country's state of emergency for another two weeks.

Lawmakers are expected to agree to Pedro Sánchez's request for lockdown measures to stay in place until 11 April. Under the rules, people are banned from leaving home except for buying essential supplies and medicines, or for work.

Spain set to declare national lockdown

Under the decree being finalised, people would be allowed out only for emergencies, to buy food, or for work.

With 191 deaths and 6,046 infections, Spain is the worst-hit country in Europe after Italy, which declared a nationwide lockdown on Monday.

The US is extending its European travel ban to the UK and the Republic of Ireland from Monday.

President Donald Trump confirmed the news in answer to a reporter's question at the White House.

On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Europe was now the "epicentre" of the pandemic.