Catalonia enters emergency 1 phase due to coronavirus

Catalonia is entering its 'emergency 1 phase' for the first time ever due to the coronavirus crisis.

#President @QuimTorraiPla: "Hem activat la fase d'emergència 1 del pla procicat. Dono ordre del cessament de l'activitat dels centres escolars i universitaris a partir de demà" “#Coronavirus #COVID19 #Procicat

— Govern. Generalitat (@govern) March 12, 2020

President Quim Torra, accompanied by Alba Vergés and Miquel Buch, the health and interior ministers, chaired a meeting with civil protection authorities early afternoon on Thursday, in which it was agreed that all schools and universities will be closed from Friday, March 13.

This doesn't mean, however, that all students are to remain confined at home, but is intended to "reduce mobility," as health minister Vergés explained - indeed, labor minister Chakir el Homrani had already stated that the government is encouraging companies to allow staff to work from home. 

The new phase, a step up from the 'alert phase' declared on Wednesday in which it was already announced that gatherings of over 1,000 people would be canceled, includes guaranteeing basic supplies to all residents, permanent communication between authorities and residents, and extra resources to sectors that could possibly come to a standstill as a result of the crisis.

In addition to this, the Catalan government is also studying the option of reducing the number of passengers accessing public transport to one-third of the normal levels in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease. 

As such, Catalan president Quim Torra has asked that all residents "slow down their pace in order to control the pandemic" that has been spreading throughout Catalonia since the first coronavirus patient was diagnosed on February 25, with Buch adding that the goal is not to "create unrest," but to help the public protect themselves from the pandemic.