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Spain Declares National Lockdown to Fight Spread of Coronavirus

Members of the Mossos d'Esquadra police force direct drivers as they carry out controls to monitor access to only emergency or essential travel near Barcelona, Spain, on March 13.

Members of the Mossos d'Esquadra police force direct drivers as they carry out controls to monitor access to only emergency or essential travel near Barcelona, Spain, on March 13.

Photographer: Angel Garcia/Bloomberg

Spain is declaring a state of emergency effective immediately for 15 days, significantly limiting mobility in the country as the government seeks to stop the expansion of the novel coronavirus, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in televised speech Saturday.

The Spanish government will take full control of administration nationwide, Sanchez said after a seven-hour cabinet meeting.