While the Spanish justice system suspended on Monday the home reconfiguration of the inhabitants of an area of ​​Catalonia around the city of Lleida, ordered on Sunday by the regional authorities, this decision was overturned on Wednesday 15 July. 

This region was finally reconfigured due to a major center of contagion, after a standoff with the law. Authorities have also called on residents of several neighborhoods in the city of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, a suburb of Barcelona, ​​where cases of Covid-19 are on the rise, to avoid leaving their homes.

In the Lleida area, outings are only allowed in particular to go to work, buy food, get medical treatment or play sports between members of the same household. Almost 160,000 people are affected. This area had already been isolated from the rest of the region on July 4.

The regional government however refuses to speak of "home confinement", these measures being less restrictive than the extremely strict confinement decreed in Spain at the height of the pandemic.

"People will be able to go for a walk, play sports, all shops will be open, not just essential shops," said spokeswoman for the regional executive Meritxell Budó on Tuesday.

A legal standoff

These measures were the subject of a showdown with the justice system. After their initial announcement on Sunday, the Lleida court suspended them, forcing the regional government to adopt a legislative decree to override them.

Finally, the same court announced on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday give the green light for 15 days, asking the regional authorities to be regularly informed of the development of the epidemic.

With more than 28,400 deaths, Spain is one of the European countries most affected by the new coronavirus pandemic.

More than 120 outbreaks of contagion are currently active in the country, which has prompted many regions such as Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Andalusia to reinforce the compulsory nature of the mask which must be worn at all times, under penalty of 'fine, in the street or in closed public spaces even when the safety distance can be respected.

With AFP

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