Health Minister: 52% of Spain in phase 3 of virus

Spanish Health Minister has anunced areas of Spain that have changed phase in country's process of lockdown easing.

metropolitan areas of Mrid and Barcelona are w in phase 2 meaning that, for example, restaurants can open but with reduced capacity.

More than 50% of country is w in phase 3, tantalizing close to new rmality.

Health Minister Salvor Illa responded to a question on differences in numbers of fatalities that has provoked accusations of a cover-up in true number of deaths caused by coronavirus.

Illa said that in final sts of an epidemic it was common for numbers to change.

He insisted that government's criteria for a COVID-19 death was one that h a positive PCR (polymerise chain reaction) test.

Tax minister Maria Jesus Montero said Spain was pushing for a common European Union framework. She said tourism was one of Europe's most important assets.