The Latest: Madrid to impose lockdowns in some areas

MADRID — The Spanish capital will introduce selective lockdowns in urban areas where the coronavirus is spreading faster.

Deputy regional health chief Antonio Zapatero said Wednesday that the measures will most likely affect southern, working-class neighborhoods of Madrid where infection rates have been steadily soaring since August.

Zapatero said that Madrid wants to “flatten the curve before the arrival of autumn and the complications that cold weather could bring,” adding that the measures to be taken will be decided by this weekend.

Madrid and its surrounding region of 6.6 million people have accounted for nearly one third of Spain's new cases, which have averaged 8,200 per day for the past week.

Overall, Spain has had more than 600,000 cases and just over 30,000 deaths.

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HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

— Trump denies downplaying virus threat, despite audio recording, and continues to cast doubt on masks

— India’s virus cases pass 5 million and are still soaring, testing feeble health care system and closing in on US total

— Iowa governor won’t budge on mandating masks even as virus deaths rise

— Doubts persist as NYC’s hybrid school year is set to start

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Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

LONDON — The British government plans to ration coronavirus testing, giving priority to health workers and care home staff after widespread reports that people throughout the country were unable to schedule tests.

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