70% of Spain Enters Phase III Today but Regions want to Restrict Mobility

When the 6th and final extension to Spain’s state of alarm was approved, responsibility for the decision on whether to allow free movement was handed to regional governments.

70% of Spain is now in Phase III of de-escalation, with the final extension to the state of alarm ending on Sunday, when free movement will be possible across the entire country.

However in the meantime, some regions are struggling more with the pandemic than others and although infections and mortalities are on the decline, many feel they are not completely ready to re-open.

Some regions that are favoured by tourists such as Andalusia, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands have all chosen to delay the opening of night-time bars and clubs on the basis they could become focal points for corona infections.

Many fear a repeat of the situation that happened in South Korea, where an outbreak of the virus in nightclubs in May forced part of the country back into lockdown.

The economic cost of the corona pandemic weighs heavily on Spain’s bank balance. However, there are serious concerns that a 2nd wave of the virus could hit the economy even harder, which is why many regions want to go through de-escalation at a slower pace.