The government announced the drastic new measures at a news conference on Saturday and they are set to come into effect on Monday morning. People will still be allowed to use private vehicles but only to carry out the permitted activities or to refuel at service stations.

The measures, which Sanchez called "extraordinary" and "drastic" will last for 15 days as part of the state of emergency and may be extended further with a decision from the Spanish Congress of Deputies.

The battery of measures effectively means all restaurants, bars, hotels, non-essential retail outlets and education centers will be shut nationwide. The country earlier closed all beaches to prevent mass gatherings of people. 

Public transport will also be curtailed however the country has not closed its borders.

Spain's Interior Ministry will control all police forces, including local and regional ones, as part of the state of emergency. Authorities have been granted the power to carry out searches and "checks on people, goods, vehicles, premises and establishments that are necessary." 

The Iberian country has had over 6,250 confirmed cases of the Covid-19 illness and 193 people have died.

The announcement came after a lengthy cabinet meeting which Podemos leader, Pablo Iglesias, reportedly broke quarantine to attend, after his wife tested positive for Covid-19. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is now said to be considering firing the deputy prime minister, Spanish newspaper El Pais reports.

The coronavirus outbreak began in China late last year, but official figures show that the Asian country has stabilized the spread of the disease. Meanwhile, the number of cases in European countries has skyrocketed in recent weeks with Italy and Spain recording hundreds of cases.

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