Spanish regions double down on COVID-19 measures

Several Spanish regions ramped up anti-coronavirus measures on Monday after weeks of incremental tightening have failed to tame a rampant third wave. With Spain's 14-day incidence of the virus soaring to 829 cases per 100,000 people from 263 a month ago, regions have been scrambling to curb infections - although national law bars them from imposing the harshest restrictions like home confinement.

Several Spanish regions ramped up anti-coronavirus measures on Monday after weeks of incremental tightening have failed to tame a rampant third wave.

With Spain's 14-day incidence of the virus soaring to 829 cases per 100,000 people from 263 a month ago, regions have been scrambling to curb infections - although national law bars them from imposing the harshest restrictions like home confinement. Potentially further complicating the authorities' decision-making is the resignation of Health Minister Salvador Illa, who confirmed he would step aside to run for election in Catalonia after leading Spain's response since the start of the pandemic.

However, a source close to the government pointed to Regional Policy Minister Carolina Darias, who has worked closely with Illa and overseen weekly summits of regional health chiefs, as the most likely candidate to replace him. The regions brought in a range of restrictions. Northwestern Galicia imposed its toughest measures yet, limiting people to socialising only with members of their own household and ordering non-essential businesses to close at 6 p.m. for three weeks.

Regional leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo urged citizens to stay at home from 8 p.m. but acknowledged he could not enforce that. Southeastern Valencia and Murcia, where the 14-day incidence exceeds 1,200 cases per 100,000 people, banned gatherings of more than two people.

Even Madrid, whose regional government has staunchly opposed any measures that hurt business, will bring forward a curfew by an hour to 10 p.m. and deploy drones and extra police to ensure compliance. Illa, who has repeatedly ruled out a nationwide lockdown, will join his final cabinet meeting on Tuesday before stepping down to try to win the Catalan regional government away from pro-independence parties in elections scheduled for Feb. 14.

The office of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a statement his replacement would be made public on Tuesday. Opinion polls have been split on the election. But some, including one by the Centre for Sociological Studies, have shown Illa's Socialists, now the fourth-largest party in the regional parliament, on track to win the biggest share of the vote.

That would be a major change in a region currently led by separatist parties. (Editing by Alison Williams)

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