Spain’s 47 million citizens are living a parallel to life in the United States and other nations around the globe -- social distancing, self-isolation, and nationwide closures -- and Marta Martínez Fernandez is chronicling her experience in 15 days and a podcast.
“Spain is on national lockdown. It’s day 0 and I’ve already made a podcast,” reads the Spotify description.
The country entered the mandatory lockdown on Monday, and by Thursday morning, the coronavirus infections hit 17,147 with 767 deaths. It is currently the second most affected European country behind Italy.
“Virtually. it’s changed in every possible way we could imagine,” she told Cheddar from Valencia, Spain.
Fernandez said she started her self-imposed isolation a few days before the official ruling to stay indoors came down on Monday. “I cannot go anywhere” besides essential outings, like trips to the grocery store or the pharmacy."
“I am a very routine-directed person,” she said of her choice to start a podcast, creating a daily productive task for herself and a chance to connect with other people.
French President Emmanuel Macron hailed Birkin as a “complete artist,” noting that her soft voice went hand-in-hand with her “ardent” activism. Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak called Birkin “the most French British person" and “the emblem for a whole epoch who never went out of fashion."
Members of the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists union officially went on strike Friday after negotiations broke down with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Cheddar News explains.
