Virus puts extra pressures on Spain's homeless

 

As Spaniards locked themselves into their homes following the announcement of a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, the country's homeless population are increasingly finding it hard to locate places to stay.

Living in the streets of Barcelona for the past decade, Rafael Reyes is among an estimated 1,000 rough sleepers in the city unable to abide by the Spanish government's order to stay at home.

In addition, many of the day centers and soup kitchens he used to attend were either shut down or had limited access and reduced operational hours to a minimum as part of prevention measures against COVID-19.

"Restaurants closed, bars closed. Everything," Reyes complained. "Normally you always find a friend somewhere that gives you some margin. But there is no margin left," he added.

In the deserted streets of Barcelona, signs of life and of the housing inequality are reflected in the blankets and cardboard boxes left on the floor under closed stores.

Bob Walker is part of the street team at the Arrels foundation providing services including showers and lockers as well as guidance to the homeless of Barcelona.

Recently he's been going around the city to check on those most vulnerable and inform them of the latest virus news and WHO recommendations, such as washing hands.

"Even without the coronavirus, there's like 1,200 people in the streets of Barcelona who are completely invisible," said Walker.

Authorities in Spain are scrambling to get as many people off the streets without cramming them into a shelter where the spread of COVID-19 could be even greater.

In Madrid, the sprawling IFEMA exhibition centre was converted into a make-shift shelter offering 150 beds to people who lack accommodation.

Meanwhile, in Barcelona an old school was converted into a temporary shelter for 56 people, not nearly enough to serve those in need although more shelters were being prepared in an attempt to get as many people as possible off the streets.

But Reyes said he'd rather sleep in the tiny ATM booth on the street where he has spent the last few nights than go into one of the shelters and risk being infected.

"It is a cluster of infections, of robbers, of drug addicts," he said.

"I don't want those things. What I want is a house."

Spanish health authorities say that 1,002 people have died in the country since the coronavirus outbreak, while infections have reached 19,980.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.

The coronavirus has infected more than 271,000 people and killed more than 11,000. Almost 87,000 people have recovered so far, mostly in China.