www.theolivepress.es
CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL
April 15th - April 28th 2020
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Facing facts RESIDENTS won’t have to wear face masks in the street until there are enough for everyone. The government has ruled that it would be unfair as many people are still unable to get one. For now the priority has been given to health professionals and security forces. It comes as the WHO ruled it was not necessary except for the sick and for those who care for patients in their homes.
Bad omen A GROUP of ten are facing heavy fines for breaking lockdown rules to perform satanic rituals. Police were called in after the group wearing robes were spotted in the Mas Duran forest area of Catalunya. It comes as a woman was arrested for stripping naked and climbing on a police car in Torremolinos, near Malaga.
PLIGHT: Homeless man walks past Bomberos preparing to disinfect care home
FACING UP British expat wants to help tackle the shortage of face masks in Spain A BIG hearted British expat is trying to create a production line of face masks in Andalucia. Markus Oz, who lives in Malaga, has been trying to reme-
Can’t alter the rules Bald gesture A PRIEST narrowly avoided arrest when he was stopped walking around blessing people on their balconies. The Basque cleric, from San Severino de Balmaseda, was caught walking around his town with a bottle of holy water.
Pull the other one A MAYOR has been caught breaking lockdown to ring his village’s church bells. PP leader of Sahagun Paula Conde was caught breaking quarantine with local Podemos councillor Ramon Rodriguez. Neither took any precautionary measures such wearing a mask or social distancing. The pair were denounced and arrested after they posted their session on Facebook. Police agreed that ringing church bells was not among the essential services included in the state of emergency legislation.
Our heroes POLICE in the Guadalhorce Valley were overjoyed when dozens of children sent in pictures to brighten up their police station. The Guardia Civil headquarters in Alhaurin el Grande is now awash with paintings of rainbows and drawings of children with words of encouragement such as ‘thank you, heroes’.
By Dimitris Kouimtsidis
dy the huge shortage of face masks around the country. As well as import masks from TWO expats have found a hairbrain way to raise money during the lockdown. Lesley Horn, 71, from Canada and partner Andrea Underwood, 70, from the UK, have shaved their heads and are taking bets on how much will grow back by the time they are allowed out again. The former healthcare workers are asking big-hearted expats to donate to their Homeless Entrepreneur ‘bold bald’ campaign. The pair, based in Jerez, have also vowed to donate €8 each per centimetre of hair that grows back.
China, he also wants to set up his own production line to make masks and distribute them. Oz, 55, from Yorkshire, has over 15 years experience dealing with the Chinese manufacturing industry and has had similar companies in the UK. “I don’t want to make any money from this... I just want to help,” he told the Olive Press, from his home in Malaga. “As someone who knows about manufacturing, I feel like I can help. “I have contacts in China that can get me millions of N95 masks on a regular basis, for as little as €1.20 per mask,” he added. However, the semi-retired businessman wants to go a step further and set up his own production line. “I’m willing to invest well over €100,000 to import the machines, ones that can produce up to 150 masks per minute and start manufacturing as soon as possible,” he vowed. However despite sending numerous emails and calling various business consultants and accountants in Spain, he hasn’t received a reply. “I just want to help battle the shortages caused by the pandemic, but I’m not being given any help or guidance because I’m not a part of the ‘boys club’ like Amancio Ortega.”
Time for action PHILANTHROPIC Spanish chef Jose Andres has been celebrated on the cover of America’s Time Magazine for his COVID-19 efforts. The 50-year-old World Central Kitchen founder has set up soup kitchens at his Washington and New York restaurants to feed firefighters and homeless people. He also sent food to passengers on quarantined cruiseliner the Diamond Princess in Japan, on which 10 people died after contracting coronavirus.
Wedding surprise A COUPLE have married on their balcony after their wedding was cancelled due to COVID-19. Jose Lopez and Deborah Gurrea were stunned by their friends and neighbours when they had to call off their La Rioja wedding. After announcing the cancellation, two of their friends who live on the same street in Arnedo, took the matter into their own hands. They decided to mobilise the neighbourhood and organised a surprise wedding,
sending a big box to their home on the morning of the big day with a bridal bouquet, a tutu, a top hat and a bow tie. As the box was delivered they heard a cacophony of noise outside and watched as hundreds of neighbours filled their own balconies with balloons and banners with the couples’ faces on them. Even the mayor of the town was able to make it and stood on the street, with an impromptu sound system. Visibly moved, the couple said ‘I do’ and married in front of all their neighbours. The ‘newlyweds’ will have an official ceremony when the pandemic is over.
