Spain cancels popular San Fermin bull-running festival

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Spain, one of the worst-hit coronavirus countries has now canceled its famous San Fermin bull-running festival despite reports stating that the graph of coronavirus in the country is gradually flattening.

Unfortunately, authorities in the northern city of Pamplona called off the annual San Fermin bull-running festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Every year the festival attracts thousands of tourists from all across the world.

Ever since the inception of the festival back in 1978 during Spain’s turbulent transition to democracy after the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, this is the very first time that it had been canceled. The festival was made famous in Ernest Hemingway’s novel “The Sun Also Rises”.

Acting Mayor Ana Elizalde said in a statement that the cancellation leaves the region deeply sad though the decision was inevitable given the unprecedented situation at present.

On Monday Spain recorded 399 COVID-19 deaths, which was the lowest number of fatalities in a day since March 22. Fernando Simon, Health Emergencies Coordinator, said in a statement that death data continues to be the case of concern but an overall downward trend has been noticed recently.

According to Spain’s BBVA bank’s research unit, amidst the latest gloomy economic forecast, it expected the economy of the country to contract 8% in 2020 before recovering 5.7% next year, under the assumption that Spain’s lockdown will end in late May.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said he will seek parliamentary approval to extend the lockdown by two weeks to May 9 but will continue easing some restrictions.

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