State of alarm in Spain ends and the streets fill with people to celebrate it

USPA NEWS - The state of alarm decreed six months ago by the Spanish Government to contain the Coronavirus pandemic ended at midnight this Saturday. With no movement restrictions and no curfew, the Spaniards took to the streets to celebrate their regained freedom. However, the crowds of people, the absence of masks and the unconcern of the Spanish make us fear the worst.

Once the state of alarm has ended, the management of the pandemic is now in the hands of regional governments and the courts of Justice. Because regional governments have been left without legal support to cut rights in the event of a disproportionate increase in infections after the return of the Spanish to the streets. And the Spanish Government determined that the courts should decide on the legality of the measures adopted by regional governments. As a result, in the Basque Country the judges have rejected the restrictions requested by the Basque government; while in Andalusia, bars and clubs can open until 2:00 a.m. and Andalusians can meet in houses with no limit of people.

Some regional governments brought the end of the curfew forward to Saturday and delayed the closing time of bars and restaurants. And the streets were filled with people on Saturday night, especially young people. In Madrid and Barcelona, the images of crowds of people without masks or social distance open the television news this Sunday. And the local police were overwhelmed to control the masses of people willing to have fun and drink. And to burn containers, in some cases.

Regional governments fear that the situation will lead to a very significant increase in infections, at a time when that number is decreasing and the prevalence at seven and fourteen days is also decreasing. Although the health situation improves, hospital ICUs remain at risk of collapse. For this reason, the authorities insist on demanding responsibility from the Spaniards and recall the importance of wearing a mask and keeping a safe distance.

More than five million Spaniards have received the two doses of the vaccine and thirteen million more, the first dose. Almost five million have had the disease, but the problem, a health worker told USPA News, is that "they are not being tested for antibodies." It is not known if the sick and vaccinated have developed enough antibodies to rule out a future new COVID-19 pandemic. And while, the Spaniards in the streets walk the razor's edge.