That was the warning from the main hospitality business lobby, which said some 40,000 bars and restaurants had already shut down permanently in tourism-dependent Spain which implemented one of Europe’s toughest lockdowns. The Spanish Hospitality Industry Association added that in a best-case scenario, 25,000 more were likely to close by year end, with another 20,000 if spikes were not contained. ( REUTERS )Spaniards and foreign tourists have not been drinking and eating out as much as usual when lockdown ended last month. FILE PHOTO: People sit at a bar near Barceloneta beach, after Catalonia's regional authorities and the city council announced restrictions to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Barcelona, Spain July 19, 2020. ( REUTERS )NO TAX CUTSpain, which has suffered more than 28,400 deaths and about 266,000 cases of the COVID-19 disease, has seen a sharp rise in new infections over the last three weeks, but still at a level well below the peak.

Source: Hindustan Times July 23, 2020 10:18 UTC