Madrid runners hit streets as Europe’s virus outbreak eases

Spain’s runners, walkers and cyclists took to the streets for the first time in almost two months as the nation began to ease one of Europe’s tightest lockdowns, amid signs that the worst of the coronavirus outbreak across the region may be over.

Madrid filled with joggers on Saturday, as Spaniards were allowed out of their homes to exercise for the first time in seven weeks. Walkers, bicycle riders and skateboarders headed to parks, many in pairs, defying rules. Police, though, seemed relaxed, only ordering runners off the roads passing through parks.

The "coronavirus is being controlled in Spain,” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a televised speech Saturday, describing the relaxing in restrictions so far as "small reliefs” while urging caution in the fight against the virus.

While Spain has been among Europe’s worst virus hot spots, new cases and fatalities are easing, a trend echoed elsewhere in Europe. In Germany, for example, the number of new cases climbed at the slowest pace in four days and authorities recorded the fewest number of deaths in five days, numbers released Saturday show. Against that backdrop, governments across the region are beginning to relax the lockdowns which have paralyzed economies.

In the fashionable Malasaña neighborhood of Madrid, some families were taking advantage of the easing of restrictions to stroll through sun-bathed streets.

In one street, neighbors were organizing a party to celebrate May 2, a local holiday that normally takes place in a nearby square. Bunting was strung across the street and balcony concerts will start at 11pm tonight, one local said over the blare of music.

Balcony Chats

Overall, it was still quieter than usual and most people remained indoors, leaning out of their balconies to chat with neighbors across the street. Spain’s government set time slots in which age groups are allowed onto the street for different activities, with exercise allowed in the early part of the morning.

The next stage of the government’s plan to phase out the lockdown will start May 4, when restaurants, stores, bars and hotels are allowed to open under certain strict rules in four islands.

In the U.K., the government will give companies guidance within days on returning to work safely once curbs ease. Boris Johnson’s administration is reviewing whether it could relax the two-meter social distancing rule, which could allow more businesses and schools to reopen, The Daily Telegraph reported today. Ministers have asked scientific advisers whether people need to stay so far apart, the paper said.

The Sun paper, meanwhile, reported that the U.K. could begin relaxing restrictions on May 26.

Italy Moves

In Italy, the rules governing their country’s two-month lockdown will relax -- slightly -- starting on Monday. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is preparing to further ease Italy’s lockdown from mid-May if there is no spike in new virus cases following next week’s initial relaxation.

Italy, the original epicenter of the European virus outbreak, has reported over 203,000 cases and 28,000 fatalities.

The new rules taking effect May 4 allow construction and manufacturing to resume next week while retailers and museums will reopen on May 18 and bar and restaurants in June. Schools will remain shut until September.

Hard Work

In Ireland, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe Saturday sketched out a plan to guarantee 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) of loans for small and medium sized companies, as the government prepares to start reopening the economy from May 18. In addition, the state is preparing to provide 2 billion euros worth of capital to larger companies, as it tries to fully reopen the economy by mid-August.

"Covid-19 has created a world that none of us could have imagined just a few short weeks ago,” he said. "The hard work of the Irish people has ensured that we are getting to grips with this disease.”