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AUDIO

00:14.

COMM

For weeks COVID 19 has been sweeping over Spain like a deadly storm. With far more than 15,000 dead, it has hit Spain harder than almost any other country. The capital Madrid is the biggest source of infection. 

The whole country is on "state of alert". The population must stay at home. Those who break these rules will be severely punished.

00:24

COMM

Retirement homes are the most vulnerable places. Well over 3,600 people have died in nursing homes. Nurses are at the edge of their strength. They often work without suitable protective clothing.

00.56

Raquel Rubio.

Right now it's the only way to protect us. We have nothing. We dress in homemade clothes. Right now, we have to wash our plastic gowns with water and bleach to reuse them.

 01:11

COMM

These are the heroes in the fight against the virus. To help others, they risk getting sick themselves.

01:35

COMM

Raquel Rubio manages a ward of the nursing home. Eight of almost 150 residents have died here in the past two weeks.

01:46

Raquel Rubio

At first we were told that it was a virus coming from abroad. At first, it appeared that the inhabitants were dying from their previous illnesses. How can we know if they were infected? No one was tested. Not our residents who were dying, not the staff. And many of us are sick. Almost half of our staff is sick.

2.14

Raquel Rubio

When someone dies, we open the windows and wait until someone comes to collect the body. That may take a day or two. After all, the poor in funeral parlors are completely overworked. Yes, that's the situation.

02.30

COMM

Half of the residents of this nursing home show symptoms and therefore need to be isolated in their rooms. No one is being tested here. Spain does not have enough tests. Patients over 75 are hardly ever admitted to the overcrowded hospitals.

02:50

Raquel Rubio

Ambulances haven't been coming to us for a long time. It's been more than two weeks since the last pickup.

03:10

COMM

To support the completely overburdened health sector, the government uses the military.

A special infantry unit is sent to Raquel's nursing home. The soldiers are to clean the rooms of the eight deceased patients with special equipment. The virus is persistent and deadly for the other residents of the nursing home.  Sergeant Jesús Campo Logroño is leading the operation.

03:34

Jesús Campo Logroño

It's the first time we've made such a commitment here. It's a very special mission for us soldiers, here in our own country. We are used to being sent abroad. 

04:01

Jesús Campo Logroño

I'm going in for recon.

I'm gonna go inside for a minute and I'll be right back. Wait for me for a second, please.

04:11

.

Jesús Campo Logroño

It is an honour for us to be able to help the population. By disinfecting or providing security.

04:24

COMM

The special army unit is trained for biochemical and nuclear attacks. It has been in operation since the general state of emergency was declared in Spain on 15 March. Like almost everywhere else, the population must stay at home.

04:49

Jesús Campo Logroño

The population behaves excellently by staying at home. Everyone must take responsibility. And staying at home is the task now. It's hard. I know it's hard.  We who are out here know how hard it is not to be able to see your own family who might live nearby. But that's just the way it is right now. But I'm sure that we'll get through it.

05:16

COMM

Family members are not allowed to visit their relatives in hospitals or nursing homes. But this also means that they die alone.

05:27

Krankenschwester 1

It's hard, it's hard. Watching an older person die and not being able to do anything about it. 

05:34

Krankenschwester 2

It's the worst. It's all happening so fast. There's nothing you can do, and it's hard. You know, we really like our job. We do everything for our residents. But there's nothing we can do. Because they die.  No matter how hard we try to do something.

05:52

Krankenschwester 1

After work I get into the car and have to let my frustration run free and cry. But then I come home, there are two daughters waiting for me. I have to protect them from it.

06:06

Krankenschwester 3

I am not afraid of the virus. But I'm just so sorry to see them like this, you know? I'm not afraid of the virus because I think God is protecting us all.

06:32

Krankenschwester 3

Honey!!   I love you.

06:37

COMM

For the nursing staff in the home, the risk of infection is high. And yet, they refuse to give in to the virus. They encourage themselves and others with music and a hug.

Raquel has recently become a grandmother and has not seen her family for more than three weeks. Afraid of infecting her, she is living alone in her holiday apartment.

07:12

Raquel Rubio

I, but also the other sisters, are happy that we can make our contribution and help

But fear?  No, I'm not afraid. Only of not being able to carry on. And of course the fear that I'll get it. And that I won't be able to see my grandchildren. I just want to see them grow up a little. Just a little.

But fear? No, I'm not. I think we have to help in everything we can. 

08:05

COMM

Spain has not experienced such a situation since the Civil War of 1936.

Emergency rooms and intensive care units are completely overloaded. Respiratory equipment and protective clothing are missing. Almost 14% of those infected are doctors or nurses. They are now falling out.

The government has set up a field hospital in the exhibition hall of Madrid. More than 2000 field beds have been set up in the huge exhibition halls.

08.34

COMM

In Madrid this has led to a complete overload of funeral homes. The ice rink "Palacio de Hielo" was converted into a mortuary. Where normally children skate, the coffins are now piling up.

Wakes are forbidden. Only three family members are allowed to attend funerals.

 09:18

BARCELONA

Catalonia with its capital Barcelona is the second hotspot of the pandemic in Spain. The death toll so far is half that of Madrid. But the number of infected people is increasing very fast.

The central government in Madrid has once again tightened the strict curfews. Only systemically relevant professions are allowed to work. For the overwhelming majority of the 46 million Spaniards, this means that they are not allowed to leave their homes. Only those who practice a systemically important profession are still allowed to work.

Cristian Aleman is 45 years old. For 17 years he has worked as a concierge of a block of 110 apartments. He is still allowed to go to work.

With his team he tries to help the mostly older residents as much as possible.

10:13

Cristian

Today we ring everyone and ask if anyone needs help. Help with the groceries. Remember, many elderly people live here and they need our help.

10:32

10:44

Cristian

I love helping. I'm a janitor and I love my job. I've been helping here for 17 years. If I didn't love helping... 17 years, you know? I love to help.

Helping is the motor of a society - it's what drives love.  It's what fills me up, what makes me what I am. 

11:06

COMM

Life has changed completely for the residents of the apartment block. The curfew and an oversupply of information are a major challenge for everyone, especially for the elderly

Christian has his own pragmatic way of dealing with the situation.

11:31

Cristian

Mitarbeiter

Christian

I'll go get medicine for the Pifarré family. You stay here and hold down the fort, okay?

Yes, I understand.

Great, thanks.

11:50

12.11

12:45

Christian

Fear is the worst! Fear is the worst. To rack your brains. To agonize. Evil thoughts. To lose your mind.

Let's try to put aside the catastrophe and the virus as much as possible. And let's only talk about the virus for 10 minutes a day. 5 minutes in the morning and 5 minutes in the evening. Life goes on!  The virus, the virus, the virus. People are going crazy. I could tell you a thousand cases of crazy, you can see it in their faces. The fear. You can see it in their faces.

You walk out the door like that. No, no, not like that! No, no, not like that! Wrong! You, stop watching TV! You, stop watching TV. Go to him and tell him to stop watching TV! Of course!

13:14

Cristian

Hello, Mrs. Piferré. I'll leave it by the door.

13.20

13.41

Frau Piferré

But do you want me to go on TV with this mask I made for myself? It's a little scary. I'm 81, my husband's 92. Come on, show yourself. We're two elderly people, we're gonna stay here now. We're not going back to the hospital.

Well, what can I say, I'm a little playful and I'm better than ever. You bring everything home. I don't have to do anything. I don't even get tired. It's our vacation. The only thing is, there's too much information. Too much information.  It's terrible. It used to be politics and now it's Corona. You better send something to distract them.

14.14

Cristian.

It's a matter of attitude. Attitude. It may seem like a cliché, but that's the way it is. Is the glass half full of the virus? Or half empty with the virus.

You need respect. Respect for the virus, but not fear.

14.38

Christian

Nachbar

Christian

Nachbar

Mr. Censi, it's me, Christian: Are you okay?

Yeah, do you want me to come down?

No, no, I just wanted to ask if you were okay or if you needed anything.

No, I'd just like to go out and get some fresh air.

14:57

Christian

Nachbarin  

Christian

Nachbarin

Christian

Nachbarin  

Hi, it's Christian.

Hello, all clear on the front!

No news from the front?  Great!

But wait, I have a question. The lady on the second floor, is she alive or dead?

The lady on the second floor?  She's alive, but she's in a nursing home, Mrs. Carboñel

Ah well, I just noticed that her plants are dying.

Damn it, you know what, I'll write the nurse.

15:29

Cristian

Hold on, I'll see if there's any mail for you. But not bad, despite the catastrophe the post office is still working.

15:38

COMM

Lourdes has lived in the building for 10 years. She's a professor. These days she's thinking about the challenges this virus poses to us.

15:50

Lourdes

We are in a state of war, and in a state of war everything is suspended. We would also have to suspend payments of rent and utilities. Or at least for those who can't afford them.  I don't mind paying for the service if someone else can be helped who cannot pay.

16:13

COMM

The economy has come to a standstill. After the crisis of 2008, many have lost their savings. They live from day to day. In the big cities the population lives on an average of 65 square meters. Young people can only afford shared apartments. Just like 27-year-old Elvira Mazariegos and her boyfriend Fran Sagues.

16:35

16:57

17:29

Elvira Mazariegos

The rents here in Barcelona are crazy. For a room in a shared flat one pays 400 euros, for a moderately decent room 500 euros.

But on average, here, one earns less than 1000 euros.

And now, the people up there want everything to be stopped, that we stay at home without working and without earning money.

Oh yes, all those who have registered for short-time work should get help from the state.  But when will the help come? No one has informed us. Nobody has told any citizen anything about what day and how much money we will get. Nobody has told us anything. Maybe I can apply for it and hope to get it soon. But the landlord doesn't have that patience. You can stay at home and wait. But the landlord wants his money

And the water bill and the electricity bill?  What do you want me to do? Should I stop paying? They cut off my water and electricity, and I'm stuck here without water and electricity... ...but with a mask and gloves. It doesn't make any sense.

17:40

Fran Sagués

I've talked to my parents about it before. They told me, "We had a similar situation back then. Don't forget that we came from a dictatorship. For two years there were no laws here. We went out on the streets and there were no laws. These are processes that a society has to go through to move forward. And sometimes there are generations that have to suffer such insecurity so that the next generation will be better off.

18:09

COMM

The strict curfew is a huge challenge for many people. In Spain, life takes place mainly on the streets. But many still remain optimistic. They rely on neighbourly help and creativity.

18:25

18:37

Fran Sagués

Well, on the first day you take the guitar. You get distracted. Do things you wish you could do on Sunday. But it's Monday.  It sucks.

Well, there's been an increasing number of initiatives on whats app. People took heart. People started going out on the balcony and applauding. And that's when it all started. We decided then to connect our stereo and play songs like "I will survive" and "I will resist". Mainly for the neighbours. Not just for us, but for the rest of the street.

19:31

Fran Sagués

Damn it, today I just went shopping and that's it. That's all I do. If I did, I'd take the bike. I miss it. I miss biking from one end of town to the other. Feeling the sun. Breathing fresh air. To sit down and listen to the sea. Watching the mountains. Just going out. Get out!

20:19

20:46

Fran Sagués

Everything repeats itself. Every morning is the same. Plus, my grandfather died. I couldn't go to the funeral. I can't hug my father. And since that day, I am another. A lot has changed.

And then there's the situation where you can't go out.  You can't... you can't even scream.

21:04

COMM

The small Catalan town of Igualada is located 50km northwest of Barcelona. A Corona hotspot. For 14 days 40 000 inhabitants were hermetically sealed from the outside world. More than 240 deaths in three weeks, a death rate far above the national average.

71 doctors and nurses are infected hospital of Igualada.

21:24

COMM

Work can mean death for everyone.

One of her colleagues is in intensive care. His condition is deteriorating dramatically. Everyone is very worried and afraid for him. Intensive care nurses Angelina Ansaldi and Susanna Ribos how it is to treat a colleague of their own.

21:54

22:15

22:21

Angelina Ansaldi

That's what bothers me the most.  The patients we usually have are very sick, but we don't know them that well. But when one of our colleagues is affected, it's hard to bear. It touches you much more. They are actually healthy, fit people, and yet they get sick.

It's very frightening. They didn't have any previous illnesses and yet they are now in the situation 

Then you think it could be me.  It can happen to you too.

22:32

COMM

Because of the many infections, more and more personnel is missing. All healthy people have to do double shifts. Patients are dying every day, it's a huge burden.

Human contact must be reduced to a minimum, there are too many patients and the risk of infection is high.

22:56

23:18

Angelina Ansaldi

But of course you have the patient who is conscious, who realizes that he is not well. You go into his room he looks into your eyes, and of course he expects you to tell him, "Come on, you can do it" It is this inability to really do something that weighs most heavily on you.

And especially the fact that they are alone, that the family cannot come. We feel a bit like our patients' surrogate family now. It's hard and at the same time very fulfilling. Because when they get better, we give them the support they need. We call out to them: You can do it. You're gonna lose weight and you're gonna have a top body to go to the beach."  So we try to cheer them up with humor.  

23.52

Angelina Ansaldi

We have discussed this with our colleagues. Once all this is over, the therapists will have a lot of work with us. At the moment we take everything with humour, but it doesn't really work well. Now we have to do a good job and help the patients in the best possible way.  But we are all on the edge of resilience. The slightest thing can make us cry or cause us to palpitate. 

24:32

25:42

COMM

In view of the rising death toll, the government has extended the state of emergency for another two weeks. Strict curfews are now in effect until 26 March. The population is understanding and is exercising patience. Like every evening they stand on the balconies and take courage.

Caretaker Cristian Aleman also has to show stamina.

25:47

Ehefrau

Christian

Ehefrau

Cristian

Please be careful and protect yourself

Yes, yes, yes, yes, I will. Yes, honey.

Good, we're here. We'll talk a little later.

We'll talk before lunch, if you want. So, one kiss.   See you later.  Mauro. Goodbye, darling.

26:11

Cristian

The first person that the neighbours see when they go out into the street is the caretaker. Therefore, we caretakers must do one thing above all: smile - before all now in these difficult times. We must smile. We shout a "Hello good morning" to them. They should get positive energy, not negative energy.

26:40

Over 7 million children in Spain have not been able to leave home for weeks. Life has come to a standstill.

27:03

Axel Piñeiro

I have lived here my whole life and I have never experienced anything like this. We hope we never see anything like it again..

27:15

COMM

Empty roads, hardly any air traffic throughout the country, the country is economically on the ground.

Shops and restaurants are closed, only delivery service is allowed.

Axel Piñeiro is marketing manager of a pizza chain. The unbelievable strain on everyone working in hospitals gave him an idea.

To help doctors and nurses, he has organized Delivery 4 heroes.

27:28

Axel Piñeiro.

It started out like this: We found the hospitals that were treating Corona patients and sent them a free pizza delivery. We wrote encouraging messages on the pizza boxes. Of course we know that this food is not essential for survival, but it is at least a small joy for the doctors after their 12 - 14 hour shift.

27:55

Axel Piñeiro

We then expanded the campaign and after a few calls to some friends in the industry, six more restaurants joined. We were happy about this and all of them were ready to participate from the first moment. With great enthusiasm. Everyone immediately said, great idea, we are in. Count on us.

28:33

Mochis Verkäuferin

Of course, each time the boys send me pictures of the happy doctors, who said with joy: Look what they have brought us. I feel useful. I feel very happy, super happy that I can do something in this situation that I can give a little joy to someone who needs it right now.

28:55

Guakaomole Verkäufer

Well, the least we can do is to send them a good meal so that they have support in these difficult moments.

 29:15

Axel Piñeiro

Here they even write messages for the doctors.

Okay, we got it.

29:40

29:54

Axel Piñeiro

Oven-fresh pizzas, otherwise we have sushi, burritos, mochis, which are Japanese dessert, and Hambuger .

30:21

Krankenschwester

To make you happy.

Well, it is a complicated situation that we have never experienced before, and it is a way to encourage and thank each other, because we are not the only ones who matter.

30:41

COMM

Spain's health system is overtaxed with corona. There are only 5,600 intensive care beds in Spain, much less than in Germany.

The government is trying to get masks and protective clothing in China.

Every evening at eight, everyone goes out onto the balconies to give applause, recognition for the fight for life and death.

31:47

Krankenschwester

think this will change all of us. We have to change the way we think and do things differently. We've never had a situation like this in our lives. We haven't experienced something like this because of our age. This will help us to realize that we are all doing very well and that our problems are not really problems.

They sing the anthem of these days: Resistiré. I will stand firm. A song from the 80s.

32:10

COMM

After all the political and nationalistic quarrels of the last years, the country stands together now, singing with one voice against the crisis.