Coronavirus: relieved residents get a kick out of freedom as restrictions lifted in Spain

A woman works out in Valencia after Spaniards were allowed outdoors for the first time since March 14. Picture: AFP

After 48 days of home isolation, Spaniards descended en mass to parks and beaches on Saturday, the first day of being allowed outside to exercise and walk since the country’s March 14 coronavirus lockdown.

The Spanish government announced a week ago that the general public could go outside for an hour’s enjoyment from May 2 but limited it to 6am-10am and 8pm-11pm. The timeslots of 10am-midday and 7pm-8pm are reserved for the more vulnerable people aged over 70.

Children are allowed out between midday and 7pm.

An elderly couple enjoy the fresh air in Barcelona. Picture: Getty Images

Mark Carter, who is from Melbourne and has been in Barcelona to nurse his late mother, Beverley, in her final weeks, and then sort out matters of her estate and Spanish paperwork, said the exact rules were a bit murky as people were supposed to be restricted to an hour a day staying within 1km of their houses.

‘’That’s unless you’re doing sport, and in that case you have to remain inside your district, but still only have an hour maximum,’’ the 36-year-old told The Australian.

“I can get to the water and harbour but my 1km doesn’t extend to the beach.’’

Tayla Stephenson, a 24-year- old from the Gold Coast who arrived in Barcelona earlier this year to start a new job in marketing, was “super excited to be allowed out’’, saying it would help with the mental strain of being cooped up.

She took some early-morning video footage at the beachside, where the sand was still off limits, showing a crowded boardwalk of runners, cyclists, rollerbladers and walkers, with others stretching and sitting on benches.

However, in other parts of Spain the beaches were open and people went for a swim in the ocean.

An elderly man walks past a closed restaurant in Madrid on Saturday. Picture: AFP

Last week, children under 14 were allowed outside for an hour with one parent. Up until now, the only reasons Spaniards were allowed outside were to buy food or medicine or to walk the dog 100m from the front door, and military and police regularly checked everyone on the streets.

“It’s lovely to be able to dress up and go for a walk instead of doing exercises at home,” Sonia Claesson, 79, told The Local while she was walking in Madrid with a friend. “We’re part of the high-risk population, so I didn’t go out at all,” she said.

Some people wore a black ribbon to respect the nearly 25,000 deaths across the country attributed to the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain would gradually ease restrictions in phases until the end of June. He said on Saturday that public transport users would have to wear masks from Monday.