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Want to exercise in Spain? You have to wait for your shift. Want to exercise in Spain? You have to wait for your shift.
(about 1 hour later)
MADRID— For the first time in seven weeks, millions in Spain — one of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus — ventured outdoors this weekend as the government gingerly eased Europe's strictest nationwide lockdown. MADRID — For the first time in seven weeks, millions in Spain — one of the countries hit hardest by the coronavirus — ventured outdoors this weekend as the government gingerly eased Europe's strictest nationwide lockdown.
But there were rules — and plenty of them. People were allowed outside to exercise — no lounging — only during specific times designated by age group to keep crowds relatively thin and to protect seniors from possible exposure. A seven-hour block was set aside for children under 14 years of age but each child had to be accompanied by an adult, had to stay within one mile of home and could be outside for only one hour. Masked police officers stood watch to ensure compliance. People were also ordered not to drive to a chosen exercise spot to leave the streets clear for cyclists, runners and walkers—spaced roughly six feet apart. But there were rules — and plenty of them. People were allowed outside to exercise — no lounging — only during specific times designated by age group, to keep crowds relatively thin and to protect seniors from possible exposure. A seven-hour block was set aside for children under 14, but each child had to be accompanied by an adult, had to stay within one mile of home and could be outside for only one hour. Masked police officers stood watch to ensure compliance. People were also ordered not to drive to a chosen exercise spot, to leave the streets clear for cyclists, runners and walkers — spaced roughly six feet apart.
Spain has suffered the world’s highest per capita fatality rate due to the pandemic, with 25,428 deaths and more than 218,011 confirmed cases. The government has been reluctant to relax its strict confinement measures, which included mandatory, nationwide lockdowns and the closure of parks, schools and shops, for fear of a spike in new infections. Even now, schools and most businesses are under orders to remain closed. Spain has suffered the world’s highest per-capita fatality rate in the pandemic, with more than 25,000 deaths and over 218,000 confirmed cases. The government has been reluctant to relax its strict confinement measures — which included mandatory, nationwide lockdowns and the closure of parks, schools and shops — for fear of a spike in new infections. Even now, schools and most businesses are under orders to remain closed.
With parks fenced off, city dwellers gravitated toward squares like Madrid’s expansive Plaza de Oriente (Royal Palace Square), which overlooks the massive Casa de Campo park. Thousands thronged to the plaza on Sunday in this upper middle class neighborhood in the city’s historic center, showing at once how eager Spaniards are to resume life beyond the confines of their homes and how willing they are to respect the protocols — most of them, anyway — even as a few feisty elders grumbled about the government’s handling of the crisis. With parks fenced off, city dwellers gravitated toward spots such as Madrid’s expansive Plaza de Oriente, or Royal Palace Square, which overlooks the massive Casa de Campo park. Thousands thronged to the plaza Sunday in this upper-middle-class neighborhood in the city’s historic center, showing at once how eager Spaniards are to resume life beyond the confines of their homes and how willing they are to respect the protocols — most of them, anyway — even as a few elders grumbled about the government’s handling of the crisis.
Runners huff through the long pedestrian area connecting the plaza with adjacent streets. Despite the 69°F morning, sweat drips from red faces. Four women race up and down the steps. Cyclists zoom between those on foot, pushing themselves in their first outdoor ride in 48 days. Runners huffed through the long pedestrian area connecting the plaza with adjacent streets. Sweat dripped from red faces on the 69-degree morning (Fahrenheit). Four women raced up and down the steps. Cyclists zoomed between those on foot, pushing themselves in their first outdoor ride in 48 days.
“I wasn’t out of shape because I have a machine at home, but it’s totally different out in the sunshine,” said Luke Bogue, 32, as he dismounted from his bike. “I didn’t plan my routine, just went for the maximum time I could and pedaled as hard as I could. Now, I’m off for a pizza and a beer at home to celebrate.” “I wasn’t out of shape, because I have a machine at home, but it’s totally different out in the sunshine,” Luke Bogue, 32, said as he dismounted from his bike. “I didn’t plan my routine, just went for the maximum time I could and pedaled as hard as I could. Now, I’m off for a pizza and a beer at home to celebrate.”
A nearby church bell tolls, and everyone knows their time is up. Colorful sports attire fades from the plaza, giving way to subdued hues — and the slower pace of the over 70-year-olds. The most vulnerable segment of society, the elderly take their turn outdoors for the next two hours. The plaza visibly empties. A nearby church bell tolled, and the exercisers knew their time was up. Colorful sports attire faded from the plaza, giving way to subdued hues — and the slower pace of the over-70-year-olds. The most vulnerable segment of society, the elderly took their turn outdoors for the next two hours. The plaza visibly emptied.
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Some, like Maria Jose de la Vera, 87, needed a little push to get back outside.Some, like Maria Jose de la Vera, 87, needed a little push to get back outside.
“These 48 days have really affected me,” she said. “I only came out because my daughter made me go with her.”“These 48 days have really affected me,” she said. “I only came out because my daughter made me go with her.”
Some disagreed with the government’s restrictions of closing the parks. Others take exception to how the government has sectioned the population by age, rather than if they were infected or not. Some disagreed with the government closing the parks. Others took exception to how the government has sectioned the population by age, rather than by whether they were infected or not.
Many expressed frustration about how the lockdown has affected the Spanish economy, which posted a record 5.2 percent drop in GDP for the first quarter. Many expressed frustration about how the lockdown has affected the Spanish economy, which posted a record 5.2 percent drop in gross domestic product for the first quarter.
“They should have tested everyone. Sick people stay at home and the rest should go to work. That way we wouldn’t destroy the economy,” Maria Rosa Calvo-Manzano, 74, said. “They should have tested everyone,” said Maria Rosa Calvo-Manzano, 74. “Sick people stay at home and the rest should go to work. That way we wouldn’t destroy the economy.”
Her husband goes further. Her husband went further.
“Cowardice characterizes today’s society. Years ago, sacrifices were real. Now we are used to living well and getting everything so easily. But, we’re afraid of everything and people are too soft,” 83-year-old Jose Maria Alberdi said. “Cowardice characterizes today’s society,” 83-year-old Jose Maria Alberdi said. “Years ago, sacrifices were real. Now we are used to living well and getting everything so easily. But we’re afraid of everything and people are too soft.”
But 91-year-old Eulalia Velasco said she was afraid, too.But 91-year-old Eulalia Velasco said she was afraid, too.
“I was frightened to go out. I saw crowds of people out this morning from my balcony and I didn’t want to come downstairs, but Ana — who takes care of me — said we had to go for 10 minutes,” Velasco said, as Ana Almanza held a parasol to protect her. “I was frightened to go out. I saw crowds of people out this morning from my balcony and I didn’t want to come downstairs, but Ana — who takes care of me — said we had to go for 10 minutes,” Velasco said as Ana Almanza held a parasol to protect her.
By the time the clock strikes noon and the temperature rises to 80°F, the over-70 group has long disappeared. As if on cue, children, who were first permitted to play outside in late April, appear. By the time the clock struck noon and the temperature rose to 80 degrees, the over-70 group had long disappeared. As if on cue, children, first permitted to play outside in late April, appeared.
A father chases a wobbly toddler around a statue of a Visigoth king, while another runs laps around the central garden in matching running outfits with his daughter. Still another steadies his 7-year-old who teeters on a skateboard. A father chased a wobbly toddler around a statue of a Visigoth king, while another ran laps around the central garden with his daughter, both in matching running outfits. Another steadied his 7-year-old, who teetered on a skateboard.
None of the parents is on their phone. Most say they are comfortable with the way the government has segmented the schedule. None of the parents were on their phones. Most said they were comfortable with the way the government had segmented the schedule.
“We accept the sacrifice for the good of everyone. We have a lot of elderly neighbors,” said Ruben Garcia, skateboarding with his kids Aliyah, 9, and Joud, 3. “We can see that the strict measures have had a positive effect and the numbers are going down. But getting kids outside was the important detail for a lot of people.” “We accept the sacrifice for the good of everyone. We have a lot of elderly neighbors,” said Rubén Garcia, skateboarding with his kids — Aliyah, 9, and Joud, 3. “We can see that the strict measures have had a positive effect and the numbers are going down. But getting kids outside was the important detail for a lot of people.”
Most disappear indoors for the Spanish lunchtime at 2 p.m. For the next three hours, only dog walkers foray into the square. Most disappeared indoors at lunchtime, at 2 p.m. For the next three hours, only dog walkers forayed into the square.
Knee pads, helmets and strollers reappear around 5 p.m. Kneepads, helmets and strollers reappeared around 5 p.m.
“He was chomping at the bit to ride his new bike,” said Ana Requena about her 4-year-old Omar. “He was champing at the bit to ride his new bike,” Ana Requena said of her 4-year-old, Omar.
A cluster of five parents chats in an expansive circle — about 35 feet in diameter —monitored by police officers who caution when they get too close. A cluster of five parents chatted in an expansive circle — about 35 feet in diameter — monitored by police officers who cautioned when they got too close.
Like clockwork, parents collect play things and scurry home before the bells chime 7 o’clock. Fewer elderly opt for the evening hour. The nightly 8 p.m. applause to thank health workers erupts on schedule and ushers in the final stage of the day’s activities. Like clockwork, parents collected playthings and scurried home before the bells chimed 7 o’clock. Fewer older people opted for the evening hour. The nightly 8 p.m. applause to thank health workers erupted on schedule and ushered in the final stage of the day’s activities.
Headphones, bikes and spandex return to the plaza in droves for the most densely-populated time slot. But now, many emerge just to exercise their right to be outside. Headphones, bikes and spandex returned to the plaza in droves for the most densely populated time slot. But now, many emerged just to exercise their right to be outside.
“We’re happy to go for a stroll and be outside,” said Norma Jimenez, 31.“We’re happy to go for a stroll and be outside,” said Norma Jimenez, 31.
For many who have been living alone for seven weeks, the outing represents a reconnection to community. For many who have been living alone for seven weeks, the outing represented a reconnection to community.
“I can work out indoors no problem,” said Carlos Martin, a 40-year-old personal trainer, pausing from his yoga practice. “But it was exhilarating for me to come into the beautiful space, respect the social distancing, be outdoors and be surrounded by likeminded people all doing some form of exercise.” “I can work out indoors no problem,” said Carlos Martín, a 40-year-old personal trainer, pausing from his yoga practice. “But it was exhilarating for me to come into the beautiful space, respect the social distancing, be outdoors and be surrounded by like-minded people all doing some form of exercise.”
By 9 p.m., more than 500 people are in the plaza and many sit on the grass, waiting for the sun to set. The police see them and decide not to make them stand, as dictated by the rules. By 9 p.m., more than 500 people were in the plaza, many sitting on the grass, waiting for the sun to set. The police saw them but decided not to make them stand, as dictated by the rules.
Large spaces separate them as they chat facing the sinking sun. Large spaces separated them as they chatted, facing the sinking sun.
“We don’t need to exercise. We just wanted to breathe outdoors and watch the sun set,” said 38-year-old Jorge Valverde, sitting side-by-side with his girlfriend. “It’s a treat just to sit on the grass and watch people. I’m happy.” “We don’t need to exercise. We just wanted to breathe outdoors and watch the sun set,” said 38-year-old Jorge Valverde, sitting side by side with his girlfriend. “It’s a treat just to sit on the grass and watch people. I’m happy.”
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