Sanchez: Spain to open borders to most of Schengen

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Sunday announced that Spain plans open its borders to travelers from Schengen region countries, except for Portugal, on June 21, moving up the originally proposed date by 10 days.

Sánchez also announced that Spain will drop its requirement for people arriving from abroad to stay in quarantine, either at home or in a hotel, for 14 days on arrival, on opening its borders.

The Spanish PM said on Sunday that Spain and Portugal will maintain their border closed to non-essential crossings until 1 July.

The opening of borders will coincide with the end of the nation's state of emergency on 21 June, which  began on March 14 to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

From then on Spaniards will be able to move freely around the country without restrictions, but face masks will remain mandatory in public transport and crowded spaces.

On Monday, Spain's Balearic Islands will test their reopening strategy for tourism by accepting the first flights from Germany of tourists who will be exempt for the still-standing 14-day quarantine.

The islands plan to welcome up to 10,900 Germans during the trial.

Spain has confirmed 243,605 infections of the new coronavirus, with 27,136 deaths.

(Representative Image)