Spain reopens border with France
22 June, 2020
Site visitors flowed again across Spain's border with France on Sunday as the previous of the strict Spanish coronavirus constraints introduced in March were eased.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced previous this month that Madrid would take away border checks with most of its EU member partner states from June 21 as initiatives to regulate the pandemic were working.
Spain has been one of the worst damaged countries, suffering a lot more than 28,000 deaths and practically 300,000 cases, using its market and especially the key tourist industry devastated.
Madrid, the capital, and the Barcelona and the Catalan place, were very badly reach and remained longer in tighter restrictions than elsewhere.
On Sunday, AFP reporters at the Perthus crossing close to the eastern end of the border saw vehicles crossing both ways every several minutes, with more going from Spain into France.
There have been no checks from midnight and the traffic flowed freely.
The Spanish government announced Saturday that from Sunday EU member state citizens and those from the passport-free Schengen zone will be allowed freely into Spain, with no 14-day quarantines required.
Portugal offers however said it'll keep its border with Spain closed until July 1.
In Madrid's key Atocha railway station, Laura Garcia waited impatiently for the train taking her to Barcelona to see her fiance.
"It has been quite a long time since I last saw him, obviously, that's 90 days, a 100 times. I bought the very first ticket available so as to make it happen as quick as possibly," said Garcia, who was putting on a mask for travel and leisure.
In the "new normal", Spaniards must wear masks in enclosed spaces, keep social distancing of 1 1.5 metres (five feet) while usage of pools, beaches, hotels and restaurants will be small accordingly.
About 600 health ministry staff meanwhile will screen airports to check the non-public details and temperature of arriving foreign passengers.
Doctors might examine any suspected cases.
From July 1, Spain will fully wide open all its borders.
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