Barcelona's famous beach opens as lockdown eases

Spain is making progress on its staggered plan out of the confinement against the new coronavirus.

Roughly half of the population, including residents in the biggest cities, Madrid and Barcelona, are entering phase 1 on Monday, which allows social gatherings in limited numbers, restaurant and bar service with outdoor sitting and some cultural and sports activities.

Barcelona's famous beaches were open to the public on Monday.

The other half of the country, provinces with fewer infections or ready to face a possible second outbreak, are going one step further in loosening up restrictions.

That includes no time limits on outdoor activities, meetings of up to 15 people, weddings, and visits to nursing homes and beaches.

Some vocational schools in the Basque country are also resuming classroom activity.

Barring any surprises, the three phases, each of them designed to last two weeks, should bring Spaniards to a "new normality" by July, but the government says that good progress in quelling the new coronavirus outbreak could mean speeding up the opening.

Spain has recorded 28,700 confirmed deaths and more than 230,000 cases for the new virus.