⁍ Spanish regions are urging the central government to take measures that would give them legal backing to impose curfews.

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⁍ Ten of Spain’s 17 regions have called on the government to decree a state of emergency, which would allow regions to limit people’s movement.

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⁍ Spain has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 infections in Western Europe.

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– Ten of Spain’s 17 regions have called on the government to declare a state of emergency and allow them to impose curfews as the country deals with its highest-ever outbreak of coronavirus, which has now killed nearly 38,000 people and sickened more than a million, Reuters reports. The regions, which include Valencia, Asturias, Castilla-La Mancha, and the Basque Country, are urging the government to call an extraordinary Council of Ministers on Sunday to approve the measure, which would allow regions to limit people’s movement. While many regions favor some form of curfew, the powerful Madrid region opposes it, which has so far prevented a nationwide decision. Spain has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 infections in Western Europe. Total cases rose to 1,046,132 on Friday, while the death toll is nearing 38,000. Catalonia said on Friday night it would impose a curfew across the region, which includes Barcelona, as soon as the central government acted. “We need a decentralised state of emergency in which the Catalan government maintains all management capacity,” deputy Catalan leader Pere Aragones told a press conference. “The evolution is very worrying. Either we increase our efforts or COVID-19 increases.” Some regions are considering imposing curfews by alternative means, such as going through regional courts, if the central government does not act. “We cannot wait any longer and we have to take steps forward,” Murcia’s regional president told Spanish broadcaster TVE on Saturday. “If the central government does nothing, we will approve a curfew.”