Europe eases curbs as Spain reopens beaches
Europeans flocked to parks, gyms and pools Monday as more countries eased coronavirus restrictions.
In hard-hit Spain, Madrid and Barcelona cautiously emerged from one of the world’s strictest lockdowns with parks and cafe terraces open for the first time in more than two months.
Hundreds of people made the most of the morning sunshine to enjoy a stroll or a run in Madrid’s famous Retiro Park. In other parts of Spain, beaches reopened for swimming with strict guidelines for social distancing. Spain says it will lift a 2-week mandatory confinement for all travellers arriving from overseas starting July 1.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had already announced over the weekend that his nation was ready to welcome some foreign visitors in July. The country has reported 28,752 deaths.
Elsewhere on the continent, Italians got some exercise as gyms and pools opened again, while slowing infection rates in Greece allowed cafes and restaurants to restart a week ahead of schedule — but only for outdoor service. Iran, one of the nations worst hit in the Middle East, reported its lowest daily virus death toll since March as it reopened major Shia shrines. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel was locked in a power struggle with two states eager to ditch most of the coronavirus restrictions. The federal government however wants to extend distancing regulations until at least July 5.
The subway in Kyiv and kindergartens all across Ukraine reopened on Monday as the country moved to the second stage of easing lockdown restrictions. It has so far reported 21,245 confirmed infections and 623 deaths.