Laurence Dollimore
MURCIA has announced it is closing its external borders and those of its 45 municipalities.
The measure will last for at least 15 days and will begin tomorrow.
It means residents, from Friday, will not be permitted to leave their municipality or the region of Murcia.
There are, as ever, exceptions, including travelling for work, legal obligations, attending university, teaching or caring for dependants.
The decision was taken today by president of the region Fernando Lopez Miras, who will speak at a press conference with regional health minister Manuel Villegas later this afternoon.
It comes after health experts have warned of a collapse of the health system in Murcia due to the increasing number of coronavirus cases and patients.
The incidence rate of the virus in the region is now 577 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, up from 434 just seven days ago.
