Into the Outbreak
Spain’s great tradition of flamenco is under threat in the face of pandemic closures
A flamenco dancer with no stage, a restauranteur with no customers, and a young woman who would like to catch COVID. As Spaniards plan to spend Easter in lockdown, COVID has nearly exhausted the country's spirit.
A year on from its first lockdown restrictions, Spain is still struggling to contain COVID-19. Amongst the people on the medical frontline, there is a feeling of exhaustion and desperation: 'I cry in the subway, cry with my friends, with my parents, for no reason. It happens to me a lot. I know people on sick leave because of depression and anxiety. It's quite common now', says Susana Pardo, a junior doctor. Many young people have given up on restrictions, and some hope to catch COVID, when they go out. 'Everyone my age wants to, because if you just go through this, it’s once, it’s rarely twice and then you can go out without fear, you’re not afraid of anything', says Elena. Tourism used to account for more than twelve percent of Spain’s economy, but it’s ground to a halt. Barcelona went from being a tourist's Mecca to having to shut down its lively restaurants and shops. 'After the second lockdown, we decided not to re-open again, because it is just unviable, it’s almost impossible to reopen', says restauranteur Helena.
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