Thousands of Spaniards have laced up their running shoes for the first time in seven weeks after the government ended a prohibition on outdoor exercise.
At 6 am early risers poured into the streets dressed in athletic gear to run, bike, and speed walk, with many taking extra caution to loosen up atrophied muscles and avoid a twisted ankle that would ruin the joy of release.
Cyclists ride along the streets of Barcelona as strict coronavirus lockdown measures partially lift, 2 May, 2020. Source: AAP
A few tried running with a face mask despite the difficulty it causes with breathing. The masks are highly recommended by Spanish health authorities for walkers and shoppers, to reduce the chance of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19.
"I feel good, but tired. You sure notice that it has been a month and I am not in shape," 36-year-old Cristina Palomeque said in Barcelona after taking a break following a 20-minute jog. She had grown tired of following Zumba and yoga classes online.
"Some people think it may be too early (to go out), as I do, but it is also important to do exercise for health reasons," she said.
People exercising along Paseo Maritimo promenade in Barcelona, Spain, 02 May 2020. Source: AAP
A brilliant sunny sky in Barcelona drew many to the maritime promenade to get as close as possible to the beach, which is still off-limits. People are supposed to respect a one-metre distance, but the crowds in some spots made that impossible.
"We woke up very early so that we wouldn't find it too full of people, but it's complicated," 37-year-old Eduardo Conte said after a run along the Mediterranean beachfront. "I feel a rush (being back outside), but you have to take it easy so we don't all end up with injuries."
The scene was similar to that seen last weekend when Spain's children were let out for a walk with a parent for the first time in six weeks. After some chastising by local officials in the worst cases, the population behaved better throughout the week.
The government has set up time slots for age groups and activities to prevent crowds from forming and exposing the most at-risk elders.
People between 14 and 70 can now go out for individual exercise, and couples in that age group who live together can go for walks, from 6 am to 10 am and 8 pm to 11 pm People over 70 can go out from 10 am to noon and 7 pm to 8 pm, with one caregiver if needed. Children under 14 are now allowed to go out between noon and 7 pm for walks with one parent, for up one hour, within one kilometre of home. They cannot play with other children.
Towns and villages with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants are exempt from the timetable dividing people by age groups.
The lockdown, among the strictest in the world, has succeeded in reducing daily increases of over 20 per cent in cases to under one per cent and saving Spain's hospitals from collapse.
Spain has 25,100 confirmed deaths from the virus after a daily increase of 276 was reported on Saturday. That is down from daily death tolls of over 900 a month ago. Another 1,147 cases reported over the past 24 hours took the total of confirmed infections to 216,582.
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