The
OLIVE PRESS
Mijas Costa FREE
Andalucía
Get on the port side of luxury in
Your expat
voice in Spain
Vol. 13 Issue 350 www.theolivepress.es August 19th - September 1st 2020
See our special on page 11
Lockdown lies By Laurence Dollimore & Dilip Kuner
Paedos in crime EXCLUSIVE: Expat Maddie murder suspect may have had an accomplice in 2017 sex crime Page 5
Life on the line Á chilling look at life on the frightening streets that are under the control of Spains drug lords Page 6
THE Spanish government was forced to step in after an English news site claimed the country would go into a second lockdown on September 18. Fernando Simon, director of health emergencies, made it clear that no such plan has existed. He singled out the story as ‘fake news’ - or a ‘bulo' in Spanish - in a heated, late-night press conference. The story, that was published on an English website based in Fuengirola, claimed the government would be introducing the extreme measure next month. It gave the specific date and cited 'two government ministers' it had allegedly spoken to. Written by 'journalist' Alistair Pike, it insisted the clampdown was needed – without explaining why. Pike, who is unknown to the Olive Press, has been writing for the group, we are not naming for legal reasons, for a few months. Incredibly, he and his publishers stood by the story despite the Olive Press confirming with the Spanish government and British embassy that there was no basis to the claim. The group even added that the Span-
Spain’s government dismisses fake news story that shook expat community
STEPPED IN: Fernando Simon dismissed lockdown claims
ish government was keeping UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson informed of the alleged lockdown plan. Understandably, the story caused considerable panic in Spain, with
many people taking it for truth. A media storm erupted, leading to several instances of tourists cancelling holidays in September, adding to the substantial damage already in-
Coronavirus clampdown: Last orders
The settings of some of Hollywood´s biggest blockbusters are closer than you may think Page 18
TRADING BEYOND THE HORIZON WITH BINCK
cafe licence - the vast majority - can open. Care homes have also been affected by the measures. New residents and staff returning from holidays must have a PCR test for symptoms. Visitors are only permitted to see their loved ones for one hour, one person at a time, unless the patient is near the end of their life. Minister Illa instructed Spain’s 17 autonomous communities to bring in the new measures with some provinces adding additional rules. In Marbella, beaches will close at 9.30pm with people being allowed until 10pm to leave to leave the beach. In the Balearic Islands, boat and pool parties have been banned, places of worship limited to 50% capacity, sports competitions postponed until October and any protest or gathering of more than 300 people now requires approval from the Health Ministry. Minister Illa has also recommended citizens limit social contact as much as possible and avoid those from outside their household. If meeting friends, groups of 10 THE SKY people or less are adDOCTOR vised. However, these safeguarding suggesALL AREAS COVERED tions are not currently enforced by the gov4G UNLIMITED ernment.
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THE Spanish government has issued a ban on smoking in outdoor areas where you cannot social distance. The move is aimed at halting the rise of coronavirus cases, Health Minister Salvador Illa said. Under new nightlife regulations, all restaurants and bars with food licences must close at 1am with a final entry at midnight. Additionally, restaurants can only be 75% full with a maximum of 10 people per table and diners must keep 1.5m away from other groups. Meanwhile, nightclubs and bars without a food licence must remain closed entirely. Restaurants and bars with a
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flicted on the fragile tourist market. However, a fierce backlash via social media has seen thousands condemn the story with many even calling for an advertising boycott of the newspaper group involved. Nationally, the story was largely ignored until various Spanish websites followed up the story, including respected news organisation el Correo. Finally, the government stepped in at the weekend to deny the claims with Fernando Simon angrily stating at a press conference in Madrid that it was ‘a bulo’. “I have no information of a second lockdown and the idea has not been mentioned. “They have printed a hoax story.” He added however, that the rest of August is crucial in ensuring the spread of the virus does not spiral out of control. "The priority is to control the transmission, to reach September with the lowest possible level," the epidemiologist said. "But we have to make an extra effort now." The health chief added that with an exerted effort, the situation in September could actually improve, but the public must continue to be vigilant. He insisted that schools would still go back as planned next month. "If a select amount of classrooms or schools need to close, it will have to be done," he said, "but we have to learn to live with the virus whether we like it or not."
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