Spain confirmed more than 1,500 new cases of coronavirus between Friday and Saturday raising its total to 5,753 cases, the second-highest number in Europe after Italy.

The country declared a state of alert on Saturday to try to mobilise resources to combat the virus, which has so far killed 136 people in Spain.

On Friday the government said it would adopt a series of extraordinary measures in order "to mobilise all the resources of state to better protect the health of all of its citizens".  

The number of cases in Spain has increased tenfold since Sunday, and bars, restaurants and all sporting and cultural institutions have been closed.

The Madrid region, which is the country's worst-hit with nearly 3,000 cases, has ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses.

 

                

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