Spain to relax restrictions from Monday

MADRID: About 70 percent of Spain's population will enjoy further relaxation on restrictions in place to control the spread of COVID-19 as it enters Phase 2 of its restriction plans on Monday, the Spanish Ministry for Health, Consumer Affairs and Social Services said Wednesday.

Phase 2 allows commercial centers, restaurants, cinemas and theaters, among other businesses, to open at a limited capacity. Outdoor exercise and access to beaches is also permitted, alongside social distancing guidelines.

Eastern Spain, or Comunidad Valenciana, and southern Spain, including the provinces of Malaga and Granada, as well as the central provinces of Toledo, Ciudad Real and Albacete, will enter Phase 2 on Monday.

The Health Ministry has also allowed the small islands of Formentera in the Balearic Islands and La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa in the Canary Islands to progress to Phase 3, which further lifts restrictions.

The Madrid region will remain in Phase 1, along with the Castilla-Leon region of central Spain, while the provinces of Barcelona and Lleida will have to wait until at least June 8 before any restrictions are lifted.