Spain holds huge Christmas lottery with virus restrictions

A worker disinfects an area at Madrid’s Teatro Real opera house during Spain’s bumper Christmas lottery draw known as El Gordo, or The Fat One, in Madrid, Spain (Bernat Armangue/AP)

Spain’s bumper Christmas lottery, known as El Gordo (The Fat One), has been held under tight conditions because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In keeping with tradition, the number that took top prize was called out by children from Madrid’s San Ildefonso school in a nationally televised draw at the city’s Teatro Real opera house.