This is how Norwegians live the state of emergency in Spain – VG

The Spanish government has reimposed a state of emergency in the country, and now imposes a curfew and social restrictions on the entire population.

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, will extend it until May 9 of next year.

The country has experienced very high infections in the last two weeks, with more than 185,000 new cases of infection registered. This means that Spain has around 400 infected for every 100,000 inhabitants, according to the VG special corona.

Cecilie Rystad and Hevylla Christina Sousa (both 20 years old) study international relations at the European University of Madrid, and say they do not pay much attention to the restrictions that have been introduced in the country.

In recent weeks, the Spanish capital has been subject to a partial lockdown due to soaring infection rates, and residents are unable to travel in or out of the city without good reason.

– I must admit that I do not feel much about these restrictions, I feel that we have had the opportunity to live life relatively normally. It doesn’t feel like a pandemic here. Now we have to be home at 11pm, and therefore we can’t be with friends late at night, but otherwise it’s not that different, says Rystad.

Already strict restrictions

The students have already been subject to restrictions, and they say that, among other things, wearing a bandage outdoors is mandatory and that they have not been able to have more than six people together. They should also bring a piece of paper every time they travel to the school, which is located on the outskirts of the capital.

– We are not allowed to leave Madrid for any other reason. If we do that, we risk a pretty big fine, he says.

They say they fear there will be another shutdown, but they still believe it won’t happen. It would have hit the Spanish economy too much.

– When the crown came this spring, I went straight home to Norway. I probably won’t now, I don’t think it’s like this spring, says Rystad.

Fear of a new confinement

Anja Benjaminsen lives in Nerja in Andalusia with her husband Solo Bamba, and the running of the bulls this spring is fresh in their minds.

– It was a mental strain. For us, it went well so far, because we have a decent balcony, but there were many who sat alone in isolation.

This spring, the population was not allowed to move outdoors unless strictly necessary. The only legal reason was emergencies, to buy food or medicine, or to take a little walk with the dog. In no case were Spanish children allowed to go outside for almost two months.

The small city of just under 20,000 residents has only had 13 confirmed cases of infection in the past 14 days, and a total of 133 since the pandemic began. But the new restrictions still apply to everyone.

– I do not think there is anything good with all the measures, but it is not so intrusive, and as long as we can avoid a new confinement, it is not a problem for me to be home at 23, he says.

– It was time

Gunnar Solheimsnes had a vacation apartment in Santa Pola for 30 years, before finally moving to the small Spanish town a year ago. He has no problems with the state of emergency that is being introduced now, but he welcomes it.

– I and many other Norwegians down here thought it was time something was done, he says.

He says that neither he nor those he knows tend to walk outside between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., so they won’t notice the difference.

– But we may have to limit our social interaction, he says.

Solheimsnes says that he experiences that the population is good and loyal to infection control measures during the day, people keep their distance and wear masks, but that it is social events under private auspices in the afternoon and evening that they create problems.

He also recalls what he calls the “house arrest” that was imposed on the Spanish population this spring, but still does not believe that such stringent measures are likely to be introduced this time.

– It was uncomfortable being under house arrest for ten weeks. Many of us struggled mentally, but I felt more sorry for the Spanish and especially for the children who had to be at home for two months.