Madrid: Millions of people across Spain left their houses to exercise outdoors for the first time in 48 days since a lockdown was imposed in the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.
With the exception of essential workers and people unable to work from home, the vast majority of Spain’s 47 million residents have been housebound since March 14, only allowed out to buy food or medicine, reports Efe news.
Children have been able to go out with a supervising adult since April 26 and are now be limited to a schedule between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Health Minister Salvador Illa outlined a strict schedule of allotted time slots in a bid to avoid overcrowding, which permits individual exercise or walks between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
People are permitted one walk a day. They can go with a member of their household but must not stray further than one kilometre from their house.
Individual sporting activities can be done within the municipal area.
Additionally, the over 70s and people who need to be accompanied on a walk by a family member of carer are allowed out between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The schedule only applies to towns and villages with a population over 5,000.
Towns and cities up and down the country have adapted public spaces, including extending crosswalks and adding markers to help people measure social distancing. (IANS)