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Spain’s death toll from coronavirus doubled to 288 on Sunday after the country dramatically restricted its 47 million residents’ movement, according to a report.

The fatalities were up from the 136 reported on Saturday with nearly 8,000 cases, making it the hardest-hit European country after Italy, Sky News reported.

The climbing number of infections come after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a partial lockdown Saturday as part of a 15-day state of emergency.

All citizens must stay home except to buy food, go to the pharmacy, to the hospital, to work or for emergencies.

“We will (eventually) return to the routine of our jobs and again visit our friends and loved ones,” Sanchez said in a nationally televised address.

He continued, “Until that time comes, let’s not waste energies that are essential now. Let’s not lose our way.”

The World Health Organization said Europe had become the epicenter of a coronavirus pandemic with hotspots in Italy, Spain and France.

There have been more than 152,000 coronavirus cases across the world in at least 144 countries and territories.

With Post wires