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| Spain’s Villages Wage a Lonely Fight Against the Coronavirus | Spain’s Villages Wage a Lonely Fight Against the Coronavirus |
| (6 days later) | |
| VALDERROBRES, Spain — The deafening rumble rose from the depths of the countryside, a welcome yet unnerving sign of life in a corner of northeastern Spain, where villages perched on craggy hills overlook vineyards and fields of olive and almond trees. | VALDERROBRES, Spain — The deafening rumble rose from the depths of the countryside, a welcome yet unnerving sign of life in a corner of northeastern Spain, where villages perched on craggy hills overlook vineyards and fields of olive and almond trees. |
| At the wheel of his tractor, a farmer disinfected the narrow streets of the village of Valderrobres, with a spreader normally used to fertilize his fields. The breeze sent flowerpots and chairs flying, but it didn’t matter. There was a virus to kill. | At the wheel of his tractor, a farmer disinfected the narrow streets of the village of Valderrobres, with a spreader normally used to fertilize his fields. The breeze sent flowerpots and chairs flying, but it didn’t matter. There was a virus to kill. |
| “Everything here arrives later,” said the farmer, Miguel Angel Caldu, about the initial lack of testing kits and protective equipment in the area. Half of the health workers at the local nursing home tested positive for the coronavirus, and so did nearly 50 of the 60 residents, 12 of whom have died. | “Everything here arrives later,” said the farmer, Miguel Angel Caldu, about the initial lack of testing kits and protective equipment in the area. Half of the health workers at the local nursing home tested positive for the coronavirus, and so did nearly 50 of the 60 residents, 12 of whom have died. |
| So every evening, locals like Mr. Caldu have been cleaning places like Valderrobres, a tourist town of about 2,400 people that is known for its 14th-century gothic castle and stone bridge. | So every evening, locals like Mr. Caldu have been cleaning places like Valderrobres, a tourist town of about 2,400 people that is known for its 14th-century gothic castle and stone bridge. |
| “If we don’t take care of ourselves, nobody will,” he said. | “If we don’t take care of ourselves, nobody will,” he said. |
| In terms of deaths, the coronavirus pandemic has hit Spain harder than every European country but Italy and has ravaged large cities such as Barcelona and Madrid. Less noticed has been the plight of villages. | In terms of deaths, the coronavirus pandemic has hit Spain harder than every European country but Italy and has ravaged large cities such as Barcelona and Madrid. Less noticed has been the plight of villages. |
| Like small communities around the world, Spain’s villages are finding that their isolation is a mixed blessing. It may offer some protection against contagion, but once the coronavirus strikes, it can reveal the particular vulnerabilities that smaller communities face. | Like small communities around the world, Spain’s villages are finding that their isolation is a mixed blessing. It may offer some protection against contagion, but once the coronavirus strikes, it can reveal the particular vulnerabilities that smaller communities face. |
| In Spain, despite a robust health care system and one of the highest life expectancy levels in Europe, rural areas have suffered from aging health care infrastructure and a lack of doctors, after decades of urbanization and a lack of public investment. | In Spain, despite a robust health care system and one of the highest life expectancy levels in Europe, rural areas have suffered from aging health care infrastructure and a lack of doctors, after decades of urbanization and a lack of public investment. |
| Rural areas also have an abundance of older adults. In Teruel, the province in a remote corner of Aragon that contains Valderrobres, they make up a quarter of the population. Villages in the region, many with centuries-old ramparts overlooking the countryside, now have the appearance of boarded-up fortresses trying to keep their aged populations safe. | Rural areas also have an abundance of older adults. In Teruel, the province in a remote corner of Aragon that contains Valderrobres, they make up a quarter of the population. Villages in the region, many with centuries-old ramparts overlooking the countryside, now have the appearance of boarded-up fortresses trying to keep their aged populations safe. |
| In other rural areas, such as the province of Soria, in the neighboring region of Castile and León, outbreaks overwhelmed for weeks the only hospital with intensive care units. Such rural stretches of Spain have among the lowest population density levels in Europe, and many there have long complained about being neglected and cut off by the national authorities. | In other rural areas, such as the province of Soria, in the neighboring region of Castile and León, outbreaks overwhelmed for weeks the only hospital with intensive care units. Such rural stretches of Spain have among the lowest population density levels in Europe, and many there have long complained about being neglected and cut off by the national authorities. |
| In one village in Teruel, the only doctor in the area interrupted his weekly visits after he had to go into isolation; in another, the only grocery store closed for days after the shopkeeper left. | In one village in Teruel, the only doctor in the area interrupted his weekly visits after he had to go into isolation; in another, the only grocery store closed for days after the shopkeeper left. |
| In Valderrobres, where the closest hospital with intensive care in the region is two hours away, the health authorities initially refused to test those at the nursing home who didn’t have symptoms, said the mayor, Carlos Boné, even as it became the epicenter of a local outbreak. | In Valderrobres, where the closest hospital with intensive care in the region is two hours away, the health authorities initially refused to test those at the nursing home who didn’t have symptoms, said the mayor, Carlos Boné, even as it became the epicenter of a local outbreak. |
| When Mr. Boné bought tests and discovered that two-thirds of the staff and residents had the virus, the regional authorities rejected the results because they came from a private lab, and then conducted their own tests a week later. | When Mr. Boné bought tests and discovered that two-thirds of the staff and residents had the virus, the regional authorities rejected the results because they came from a private lab, and then conducted their own tests a week later. |
| “In villages, it’s always ‘It will arrive soon,’ or ‘You will get this shortly,’” Mr. Boné said. “In the meantime, we’re risking lives, and here, 35 workers are 35 people you know.” | “In villages, it’s always ‘It will arrive soon,’ or ‘You will get this shortly,’” Mr. Boné said. “In the meantime, we’re risking lives, and here, 35 workers are 35 people you know.” |
| Mr. Boné, a former nurse, worked in the nursing home for two straight weeks because most of its nurses have had to isolate themselves at some point and he couldn’t find replacements. | Mr. Boné, a former nurse, worked in the nursing home for two straight weeks because most of its nurses have had to isolate themselves at some point and he couldn’t find replacements. |
| Like many other European countries, Spain has struggled to contain the spread of the coronavirus in many parts of its territory. Unions are taking the authorities to court after thousands of health care workers became infected. Soldiers have found residents abandoned or dead in nursing homes. But in remote areas, the crisis has accentuated a perception that the right to health care might differ depending on where a person lives. | Like many other European countries, Spain has struggled to contain the spread of the coronavirus in many parts of its territory. Unions are taking the authorities to court after thousands of health care workers became infected. Soldiers have found residents abandoned or dead in nursing homes. But in remote areas, the crisis has accentuated a perception that the right to health care might differ depending on where a person lives. |
| “In the areas that may have been neglected, the feeling of abandonment can be as much emotional as it is material,” said Sergio del Molino, a novel writer and journalist who has coined the expression “España vacía,” or “empty Spain,” to refer to the draining away of people and skilled workers, and the hollowing out of infrastructure, especially in rural areas. | “In the areas that may have been neglected, the feeling of abandonment can be as much emotional as it is material,” said Sergio del Molino, a novel writer and journalist who has coined the expression “España vacía,” or “empty Spain,” to refer to the draining away of people and skilled workers, and the hollowing out of infrastructure, especially in rural areas. |
| Confinement measures enforced throughout Europe have plunged other rural areas into similar situations. In a small village in the Lombardy region, the epicenter of Italy’s outbreak, a ban on leaving a town without a health or work reason has forced the national agency managing the crisis response to make multiple trips per day to the closest supermarket to bring food to locals there. | Confinement measures enforced throughout Europe have plunged other rural areas into similar situations. In a small village in the Lombardy region, the epicenter of Italy’s outbreak, a ban on leaving a town without a health or work reason has forced the national agency managing the crisis response to make multiple trips per day to the closest supermarket to bring food to locals there. |
| In France, which has long struggled against a shortage of doctors in some rural areas, an organization representing small towns has recommended that municipal employees deliver bread and groceries to aging populations. | In France, which has long struggled against a shortage of doctors in some rural areas, an organization representing small towns has recommended that municipal employees deliver bread and groceries to aging populations. |
| In Spain, Aragon has received roughly as many tests per inhabitant as the Madrid region, the epicenter of Spain’s outbreak, but half as many masks per inhabitant. And mayors of isolated villages in Teruel argue that the masks that have been sent have mostly gone to Aragon’s larger cities. | In Spain, Aragon has received roughly as many tests per inhabitant as the Madrid region, the epicenter of Spain’s outbreak, but half as many masks per inhabitant. And mayors of isolated villages in Teruel argue that the masks that have been sent have mostly gone to Aragon’s larger cities. |
| Updated September 1, 2020 | |
| “There is an advantage in isolation, distance provides protection,” said Angel Paniagua, a researcher at the National Research Council of Spain, who has studied the country’s most isolated regions. “But when the virus hits, you’re left with your own problems.” | “There is an advantage in isolation, distance provides protection,” said Angel Paniagua, a researcher at the National Research Council of Spain, who has studied the country’s most isolated regions. “But when the virus hits, you’re left with your own problems.” |
| Mr. del Molino, the author and journalist, said that resources had dwindled in many rural areas after health care was gradually decentralized to the regions in the 1980s and ’90s. | Mr. del Molino, the author and journalist, said that resources had dwindled in many rural areas after health care was gradually decentralized to the regions in the 1980s and ’90s. |
| In the province of Soria, about 120 miles north of Madrid, a death rate of more than one per 1,000 inhabitants has been more than double the national average. Local politicians have denounced the shortage of doctors after the hospital in the city of Soria had to almost triple intensive care capacity but without any extra staff. “We are not fighting this virus with the same weapons” as in the bigger cities, Soria’s mayor, Carlos Martínez, said in a telephone interview. | In the province of Soria, about 120 miles north of Madrid, a death rate of more than one per 1,000 inhabitants has been more than double the national average. Local politicians have denounced the shortage of doctors after the hospital in the city of Soria had to almost triple intensive care capacity but without any extra staff. “We are not fighting this virus with the same weapons” as in the bigger cities, Soria’s mayor, Carlos Martínez, said in a telephone interview. |
| Regional authorities reported 44 confirmed coronavirus deaths in Soria in March, but Mr. Martínez said that the toll was surely higher. Total deaths from all causes in the province that month was nearly 250, he noted, up from 83 over the same period in 2019. “The numbers don’t add up,” he said. | Regional authorities reported 44 confirmed coronavirus deaths in Soria in March, but Mr. Martínez said that the toll was surely higher. Total deaths from all causes in the province that month was nearly 250, he noted, up from 83 over the same period in 2019. “The numbers don’t add up,” he said. |
| According to Mr. del Molino, “When you had a serious health condition in Soria, you were sent to Zaragoza or Madrid,” referring to hospitals in larger cities. “The pressure could be rationed in normal times, but it’s been impossible with overwhelmed hospitals,” he added. Weeks into the crisis, neighboring regions have taken in patients from Soria. | According to Mr. del Molino, “When you had a serious health condition in Soria, you were sent to Zaragoza or Madrid,” referring to hospitals in larger cities. “The pressure could be rationed in normal times, but it’s been impossible with overwhelmed hospitals,” he added. Weeks into the crisis, neighboring regions have taken in patients from Soria. |
| In the province of Teruel, more than 500 cases have been detected, and more than 60 people have died. On a recent afternoon at the nursing home in Valderrobres, Esther Pitart, an 81-year-old resident who tested positive days earlier, sat in an ambulance, ready to be transferred to a center with more resources. “I’ll come back stronger,” she said with a grin as she coughed and clenched her fist. | In the province of Teruel, more than 500 cases have been detected, and more than 60 people have died. On a recent afternoon at the nursing home in Valderrobres, Esther Pitart, an 81-year-old resident who tested positive days earlier, sat in an ambulance, ready to be transferred to a center with more resources. “I’ll come back stronger,” she said with a grin as she coughed and clenched her fist. |
| It has proved hard to know who is infected, as those who have the virus or symptoms fear stigmatization, locals say. In one village, some health workers isolated themselves in secret. “It’s a taboo for us, many people are not reporting their symptoms,” said Maria Teresa Criville Herrero, the mayor of Lledó, a village with less than 200 residents. | It has proved hard to know who is infected, as those who have the virus or symptoms fear stigmatization, locals say. In one village, some health workers isolated themselves in secret. “It’s a taboo for us, many people are not reporting their symptoms,” said Maria Teresa Criville Herrero, the mayor of Lledó, a village with less than 200 residents. |
| “That’s the upside and downside of life in a village,” said Maria Dolores Pascual Lahoz, the manager of the nursing home in Valderrobres. “Someone will always give you a hand.” But she added that since the beginning of the outbreak at the nursing home, locals were also looking at employees with caution. | “That’s the upside and downside of life in a village,” said Maria Dolores Pascual Lahoz, the manager of the nursing home in Valderrobres. “Someone will always give you a hand.” But she added that since the beginning of the outbreak at the nursing home, locals were also looking at employees with caution. |
| For those who have been contaminated, that has made the weight of isolation heavier, they say. “You can feel the virus in the air, and you just feel so powerless,” Conchita Esteve, an employee at the nursing home who tested positive, said from the doorstep of her apartment. “For the elders, and for yourself.” | For those who have been contaminated, that has made the weight of isolation heavier, they say. “You can feel the virus in the air, and you just feel so powerless,” Conchita Esteve, an employee at the nursing home who tested positive, said from the doorstep of her apartment. “For the elders, and for yourself.” |
| Samuel Aranda contributed reporting from Valderrobres, Spain; and Emma Bubola from Milan. | Samuel Aranda contributed reporting from Valderrobres, Spain; and Emma Bubola from Milan. |