The advance of the curfew at 10 p.m. and the prohibition of making use of the interior of the bars are the toughest measures faced by the residents of sa Pobla, where COVID-19 infections have increased alarmingly.
The hopelessness was guessed this Saturday in the streets of the town, when observing the faces ambushed behind the masks. «I saw it coming. The agglomeration of people in recent weeks was not normal, “he said. Rosa Forteza. His shoe store is in the Plaça Major itself, but the appearance of the premises was soulless on a very cold and rainy morning, which in itself would have slowed down customers. «You should not have waited so long to put some measures. Now I hope that Christmas is even worse, “Rosa lamented with a gesture of resignation at her empty establishment.
In practically the same terms they expressed Pilar and two other ladies called Maria. The three neighbors commented on the situation in one of the semi-desert pedestrian streets. “It was predictable, but we don’t know if it will be the solution.” Pilar ventured: “If the results of the tests that start tomorrow (for today) are bad, I’m sure they will confine us and close the town.”
The square, which buzzes with activity on any Saturday morning, even in bad weather, was almost empty. Only some, warmly dressed, had a coffee on one of the terraces. It was the case of Abderrahim Oudrassi, President in Mallorca of the Euro-Africa Foundation and collaborator of this newspaper. Was accompanied by Miguel Piñol, General Director of Commerce of the Government, and Francesca Mir, councilor of Social Welfare of the town. Together they distributed 1,000 masks this Saturday among 50 small shops in sa Pobla, in an initiative of the Foundation. This national entity, which promotes social and cultural relations between Europe and Africa, has already carried out similar actions in all areas that have registered a high incidence of cases.
Piñol also took the opportunity to transfer the measures provided by the Government to the local merchants to help the sectors most affected by the restrictions. Among these, the priority to facilitate the aid included in the 2021 budgets stands out. The recipients are the businessmen of those businesses located in areas where the toughest measures have been adopted, such as Manacor or now sa Pobla.
Piñol was in it when it was the turn of the famous bar Ca sa Miss. There, its owner, JaumeHe explained how he felt: “We are frustrated and angry. The restoration has made constant efforts throughout this time, but the measures are aimed at restricting activity in the sector. It is unfair”. Despite the opposition, Piñol built bridges. Jaume insisted: “I hope the authorities make an effort to convey that sa Pobla is a safe town when all this happens.”
Some neighbors had a gathering at sa Picada, another nearby bar. Juan Antonio, the owner, expressed his disagreement with the measures: «It is not the best way to do things. They leave us without customers. People are going to snack in other towns ». He also acknowledged his fear of the situation after the massive tests. He finished off his opinion with a resounding “this is all bullshit.”
Contagions and the Government have placed sa Pobla in the center of attention of the pandemic. The restrictive measures try to stop the spread of a virus that has become the biggest stone in the shoe that we could have imagined.
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