Spaniards to be allowed 'individual sporting activity' from May 2

MADRID -- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Saturday that people in Spain will be able to leave their homes for "individual sporting activity" from May 2.

This would mean an important lifting of the 'State of Alarm' restrictions imposed from March 15, which has been a virtual lockdown on the country, prohibiting people to take exercise outside their residencies.

Sanchez spoke to the nation on the eve of the third extension of the 'State of Alarm' which will allow children aged under 14 to leave their homes for an hour a day from Sunday onwards.

"Tomorrow, a new extension of the 'State of Alarm' comes into effect, but we will start to allow small relaxations of the restrictions, such as allowing children outside," he said.

"This first relaxation will be followed by another a week later: if the evolution of the pandemic continues as it has been up until now. From May 2, we will allow people to go outside to carry out individual sporting activity," said Sanchez.

He added that the conditions, in which people in Spain will be allowed out, will be explained in the coming days.

Spanish health authorities confirmed on Saturday that 22,902 people have lost their lives from the country's 223,759 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with the growth of new cases falling to 1.5 percent per day.

A "State of Alarm" is the first of three emergency levels a Spanish government can apply under exceptional circumstances, with the others being 'State of Exception' and 'Martial Law'.

A "State of Alarm" grants the government special powers to limit the movement of citizens, to control the means of production and use private assets if needed and also to use the military to carry out essential logistical and supply jobs.