Coronavirus in Barcelona, Spain

Guest Submission

Read & Post Comments

Apr 01, 2020 Update

We Asked: What is currently happening with regard to the Coronavirus outbreak in your area? Please provide as much detail as possible. She replied...

Right now the situation in Barcelona is under control, and all the people are staying at home. Some hospitals are bit saturated, but many industries are providing materials and medical equipament for those hospitals that need it the most. The army is building hospitals as fast as they can to host new cases and to derive some of the patients there.

How People are Coping

We Asked: How are people handling the situation in your area? She replied...

Regular people are and must be at home right now. Classes are suspended until the end of the semester. Supermarkets and pharmacies are open, but non necessary business remain closed.

Changing Conditions as coronavirus Spreads

We Asked: How has the situation changed as the Coronavirus has spread? She replied...

The situation changed a lot in just 2 weeks time. Everyone was laughing at the coronavirus spread, but suddenly it became a reality, and everyone started taking the problem seriously. The same happened with the government. It took some time to impose the quarantine, but looks like it's slowly helping reach the curve peak.

Government Response

We Asked: Describe how the government of the country about which you are reporting is handling this situation. She replied...

The Spanish Government is handling the situation as good as they can. They are making lots of efforts not without setbacks, like the defficient COVID tests. But we are slowly getting more resources to fight the virus, and everyone is giving a bit in order to make the situation a bit better.

Government Response with Regard to Expats

We Asked: Describe how your home country's government has handled the outbreak situation with regards to its expatriate citizens. She replied...

In my opinion the situation could have been handled a bit better, imposing a quarantine before. This delay in the state of alarm caused the virus to spread faster during the first weeks, so it makes sense thinking that the situation could be better now if we would have been isolated before.

Supplies and Shortages

We Asked: Is there a shortage of supplies in your location? She replied...

No, there are no shortages right now.

Preparing for the Future

We Asked: What are you doing in terms of preparations in case the situation deteriorates in your location? She replied...

Right now we just try to buy as much as possible when we go to the store, and try to stay at home all the time. We don't have any pet, so there isn't any excuse we can use to go outside apart from shopping the basics.

Lockdown & Passing the Time

We Asked: Are you staying home? If so, how are you passing the time? She replied...

Yes, right now we are at home with my family. In my free time I write in my blog www.myspanishresidency.com, watch Netflix and chill by the fireplace.

Public Healthcare & Public Hospitals

We Asked: Are you enrolled in the public healthcare system where you live? Do you feel that the public hospitals are handling or preparing for the Coronavirus outbreak effectively? She replied...

No, I'm not, but my mother is. I think hospitals are making lots of efforts and working long hours to improve this situation. So a BIG THANKS to all of them.

Private Health Insurance & Private Hospitals

We Asked: Do you have private health insurance? If you have private insurance, does this give you access to private hospitals? Are private hospitals or clinics better prepared, less prepared, or the same? Please explain. She replied...

No I don't.

Hospital of Choice for Coronavirus Treatment

We Asked: Would you choose a public or private hospital if you needed treatment for Coronavirus? Why? If there is a specific hospital that you would go to in the event of severe illness? Which hospital and why? She replied...

I think I would go for private, since they don't have that many patients, so right now they are the ones without materials shortages.

Returning Home

We Asked: Are you considering returning to your home country due to the Coronavirus? Would this be a temporary move or a permanent repatriation? Please explain. She replied...

No. The situation in Brasil will be much worse than in Spain.

Advice for People Outside of Barcelona, Spain

We Asked: If you live in an area already heavily affected by coronavirus, what advice would you share with others elswhere in the world who may be facing the same challenges in the future. She replied...

STAY HOME!

How Government is Treating Expats

We Asked: How is the government of the country where you are currently living treating expats during this time? Have there been any changes or extensions made in terms of residency and and other visa renewals, applications and requirements? Has access to public healthcare been eased? Please describe any types of changes (positive and negative) that are taking place. She replied...

Expats have been granted almost the same rights than residents, so far so good! Stay SAFE everyone!