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Spanish Pensioner, 77, Fined For ‘Hunting Pokémon’ During Nationwide Lockdown

Spanish Pensioner, 77, Fined For ‘Hunting Pokémon’ During Nationwide Lockdown

Madrid police said in a tweet that 'hunting Pokémon, dinosaurs or any other magical creature is prohibited'

Simon Fearn

Simon Fearn

A Spanish man, 77, has been arrested for 'hunting Pokémon' on the streets of Madrid while the country is in lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The bizarre news was shared on Twitter by the Policía Municipal de Madrid. Their tweet roughly translated: "Hunting #Pokemon, dinosaurs or any other magical creature is PROHIBITED during the Alarm State. Don't make excuses and #StayatHome #SocialResponsibility #COVID19."

Poorly choosing his moment to get down to some Pokémon Go, the man is not alone in being fined for breaking the quarantine. The Policía Municipal de Madrid alone has issued 4,850 complaints and detained 30 people from when Spain declared a State of Emergency on 14 March until Sunday, according to TeleMadird. On Sunday (22 March) alone there were 664 fines imposed.

Spain's lockdown means citizens are allowed to leave the house to travel to and from work, go to a bank, go to the supermarket, go to the chemist, or go to care for an elderly or vulnerable person. Leaving the house for any other reason could result in a financial penalty.

Fines issued for breaching the restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19 can range from €600 to €30,000 (£550 to £27,600). Very serious incidents can also result in custodial sentences - three months for disobedience and four years for an attack on authority.

Today Spain has reported 6,600 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of infections to almost 40,000. The death toll in the country jumped by 514 in 24 hours, with the latest figure from today (24 March) 2,696 according to the BBC.

Spain has asked citizens to stay at home to limit the spread of coronavirus.
PA

As of yesterday (23 March), the UK has also entered lockdown. In a televised address to the nation, PM Boris Johnson put the country on lockdown for at least three weeks and increased police powers to enforce the measures.

People will only be allowed out to shop, exercise once a day, for any medical need, to help vulnerable people, or to travel to and from work.

Meetings of more than two people are banned, and you should not have visitors to your home or meet family and friends.

Boris Johnson put the UK in a lockdown of at least three weeks last night.
PA

The PM said measures would be revisited in three weeks and the outbreak was being kept under 'constant review'.

He said: "That's all - these are the only reasons you should leave your home. You should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask you to meet, you should say 'no'.

"You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home.

"You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine - and you should do this as little as you can. And use food delivery services where you can."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: World News, Coronavirus