Set time slots for when people can leave the house

The Spanish government has confirmed that there will be set time slots for when people can leave their homes from Saturday, May 2. 

Last weekend, Pedro Sánchez announced that, evolution of the pandemic permitting, adults would be allowed to leave the house to go for walks and practice sport from May 2.

On Thursday, the Spanish administration confirmed that people will be allowed out during set allocated times, as Catalonia had requested in order to reduce large crowds of people.

On Sunday, April 26, children took their first steps onto the street in over 40 days, when they were permitted to go out for walks for one hour a day, and accompanied by one adult. 

Spain's health minister Salvador Illa is expected to give details on Saturday's lifting of measures on Thursday afternoon at 6pm. 

Criticism against lifting of measures

However, the easing of the lockdown restrictions by letting minors out onto the street came under fire last Monday, as specific areas became crowded with people on Sunday.

Spain's director of health emergencies, Fernando Simón, said he felt "there was a sense of 'We’re on track, let’s celebrate'" among those who had not been able to leave home in over a month, but still urged everyone to comply with safety and social distancing measures.

While there were no large crowds of children and adults in many places in Catalonia, especially early in the morning, certain urban areas did attract large numbers.

Such was the case in pedestrian areas of Barcelona's city center, such as Passeig de Sant Joan, Arc de Triomf, and the seafront, where large concentrations of people were seen.

The Catalan government had called for letting children to go out at different times of the day according to their age, a policy president Quim Torra said was justified by the "alarming" images.

Criticism came in not only from the pro-independence camp, though - Inés Arrimadas of Ciudadanos, for example, expressed "worry" with regards to the fact that, according to her, the Spanish government has been talking about easing lockdown "when people do not yet have access to face masks in many places."