COVID-19 pandemic in Asturias

[5] The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Asturias was found on 29 February 2020, when Chilean writer Luis Sepúlveda went to a private healthcare center in Gijón and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 following a trip to Portugal.

[12][13] On 10 March, a positive case was detected in Grado, referring to a coach of one of the youth teams of football club CD Mosconia who was infected at Fundación Masaveu School in Oviedo.

[16] Two days later, Asturias closed all shops except those selling food and basic necessities, and this measure was extended in all Spain on 14 March, after the imposition of a 14-day national lockdown by the Spanish government, banning all trips that are not force majeure and announcing it may intervene with companies to guarantee supplies.

[17][18] On 15 March it was reported that hospitals Álvarez-Buylla in Mieres and San Agustín in Avilés will support HUCA to allow positive cases, while Cabueñes in Gijón and Valle del Nalón in Langreo will house people affected by other diseases.

[27] In addition, several of the town councils of Asturias, such as Valdés or Cudillero, approved their own restrictions by forbidding tourism in the whole municipality with the aim of controlling the disease.

[30] On 1 April, the University of Oviedo offered the nursing students in the final year to finish their degree prematurely so they could work as soon as possible against the coronavirus.

[40] On 13 April, coinciding with the return of non-essential workers, the security forces distributed face masks for public transport users in the main stations of the region.

[64] On May 18, the Spanish government announced that an agreement had been reached with the autonomous communities to make the use of face masks compulsory in closed places and on the street if safety distance could not be maintained.

A hundred citizens gathered in Gijón, a demonstration attended by the president of Vox in Asturias, Rodolfo Espina and the deputy on the General Junta, Sara Álvarez Rouco.

[83] On 20 June, Asturias finished the de-escalation and joined the so-called "new normality", re-opening borders, with fewer restrictions and re-permitting festivities, albeit with limited attendance.

[3][87] On 30 June, after 18 days without new cases, the Public Health Service of Asturias dismantled the other provisional field hospital, installed at the premises of the International Trade Fair in Gijón.

[88] On 2 July, an Asturian woman that lived and worked at A Mariña, Galicia, were a mayor outbreak was taking place, was tested positive in the Hospital of Jarrio, Coaña.

On 9 July, the Asturian authorities warned of a "false confidence" in the region and Rafael Cofiño, General Director of Public Health, claimed that the goal would be the mandatory use of the mask.

[96] On 13 July, it was known that the Asturian government would join other regions and enforce the use of face masks even if the safety distance could be kept,[97] despite the fact of being the only Autonomous Community without any outbreak.

[106] However, that same day a report from the Carlos III Health Institute of Madrid revealed that Asturias was only able to control up to a maximum of 3 close contacts, one of the lowest figures in the country.

[125] On 21 August, Asturias reported an increase of 15% in the number of regional healthcare workers, and the setting aside of 541 of 2,865 beds for COVID-19 cases, with 147 out of the 240 that there are at the Intensive Care Unit.

[127] Days before, several touristic places such as Bulnes closed doors due to a positive case and called for responsibility and the use of the mask.

[129] On 26 August, the Asturian Health Ministry declared an "orange alert" in five municipalities of western Asturias (Llanes, Ribadesella, Parres, Cangas de Onís and Cabrales), one of the most touristic zones in the region, in the hope of avoiding a possible large-scale transmission of the disease.

[135] The next day, President Barbón declared the "orange alert" for Laviana (which had 42 positive cases in the month) and reported that all its inhabitants between 13 and 18 years old would have a PCR-test.

[144] That same day, the Regional Government extended the orange alert in Langreo, Laviana and San Martín del Rey Aurelio until 13 October, and also decreed it in Gijón and Ponga; although no more restrictions were applied, vigilance would have to be reinforced.

[147] On 12 October the town council of Ponga, one of the areas on orange alert, announced that, after testing its entire population, no new positive cases were detected and all those affected by the disease had recovered.

[151] On 23 October, after an all-time high number of daily positive cases (323), the regional government called a state of alarm and isolated the three largest cities, Oviedo, Gijón and Avilés.

[154] As hospitals were starting to be overloaded, on 2 November, Asturias announced the halting of non-essential commercial activities and demanded a regional confinement from the central Government.

[184] On 31 January, as the incidence was increasing in Avilés, Corvera and Castrillón, the Principality announced the tightening of the restrictions, by closing the restaurant business and the big shopping centres for at least 14 days.

[197] On 18 March, ArcelorMittal, the biggest industry located in Asturias, announced a Record of Temporary Employment Regulation (similar to a furlough in the United States) and the halting of part of its activities.

[213][214] During summer, Asturias was the region with the highest hotel occupancies in Spain,[215] with Gijón surpassing Majorca and Benidorm during the Big Week (8–15 August).

[216] Problems happened in Eastern Asturias due to massive attendance to towns and rural paths, as the collapse of some villages or a boycott at Ruta del Alba where some trees were cut down to block the pedestrian way.

[234] After two months of voluntary closure and online masses since the Holy Week,[235] Asturias churches re-opened for worship on 11 May, coinciding with the start of the phase 1, with people wearing masks and limiting the attendance to 30% for respecting the social distance.

[247] Two days later, Gijón City Hall announced the suspension of the International Show Jumping event, initially due to be held in late August.

[250] In addition, all festivities planned for summer 2020 were suspended by the town halls, including the Xiringüelu in Pravia, one of the most popular parties in Asturias, with around 40,000 attendees every year.