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

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

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

More than 50% of the country is now in phase 3, tantalizing close to the new normality.

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

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

He insisted that the government's criteria for a COVID-19 death was one that had 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.