Madrid's bars and restaurants ask for virus help

Spanish bar, restaurant and nightclub owners gathered in central Madrid on Wednesday to ask the government for help to keep going.

The protesters are asking for tax cuts and support to survive the fallout from the crisis.

Nightclubs are closed in Madrid and usually bustling restaurants and bars are back to only being allowed to open at a reduced capacity.

"We are not earning anything, we are not generating any profits but we still have to pay, so we cannot survive much longer, perhaps two or three months."

"As a restaurant owner the main challenge is to maintain my team, that's the most important thing to me, that's what makes me nervous. If we don't get any help for those workers, those people are going to be unemployed."

With few clients and scarce tourists, this sector is braced for an even tougher autumn and winter.

The main hospitality business lobby has warned 85,000 firms are in jeopardy.

The government has rolled out plans to help but has so far ruled out a cut to value added tax.

Spain, which before the pandemic had the highest density of bars in the world, with one for every 175 residents, has been hit especially hard.

On Monday it became the first Western European country to pass half a million confirmed cases.

Its economy shrank a record 18.5% in April-June, the sharpest drop among European Union member states.

Spain's not alone in seeing a spike - cases and deaths are rising in France, and in the UK.