Just as the Catalan health authorities had proposed, Barcelona and its metropolitan area, as well as the health region of Lleida, will finally advance to Phase 2 of the Spanish coronavirus de-escalation process from next Monday 8th June. Girona and Central Catalonia, which made the jump to Phase 2 a week ago, will continue in this same stage of the process. The Catalan territories that have progressed farthest along the path, the mountain region of Alt Pirineu i Aran, and the southern health districts of Terres de l'Ebre and Camp de Tarragona, will enter the final part of the progression, Phase 3. All this has been approved by the Spanish ministry of health at its regular meeting to decide the de-escalation map for the week ahead.
The case that was causing most concern was that of Lleida, where a minor resurgence of the virus had been detected; however, health authorities say it has been kept under control, with transmission chains identified and 100% of contacts tracked. Nevertheless, the Catalan health service is ensuring maximum vigilance and precautions in three specific areas: the city of Lleida, and the counties of Les Garrigues and Baix Segrià.
As for the rest of the state, the Community of Madrid will also advance next Monday to Phase 2, progressing at the same speed as Barcelona, despite the haste repeatedly urged by regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso in recent weeks. Castilla y León, the third hardest-hit territory in the state, will also move entirely to Phase 2.
This weekend, there will still only be 45,000 people in Phase 3: the inhabitants of the four islands of Formentera, La Graciosa, El Hierro and La Gomera. However, from Monday they will be joined by the populations of the rest of the Balearic and Canary Island groups, as well as the Basque Country, Navarra, Galicia, Cantabria, La Rioja, Extremadura, Murcia, Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, Melilla and the provinces of Guadalajara and Cuenca (Castilla-La Mancha)
The Valencian Country is the only territory in the whole of Spain that has not requested any change of phase for Monday. The autonomous community did not entered Phase 2 until this week, and in another seven days it plans to request the move to Phase 3 for its three provincial demarcations.
According to the minister Salvador Illa, as of Monday, 52% of Spaniards will be in Phase 3 and 48% in phase 2.
De-escalation phases as of Monday 8th June: Light green = Phase 3, Dark green = Phase 2
What's allowed in Phase 2?
Phase 2 will ease many of the restrictions for the Catalan capital, its metropolitan area and the health region of Lleida. Among other aspects, the opening of schools and all shops is allowed. Time slots for walks and sporting activities are eliminated - with the exception of 10am-12noon and 7-8pm, which are still reserved for over 70 year olds - and the maximum size of meetings and gatherings will now rise to 15 people. Recreational swimming on the beaches of Barcelona will also be allowed.
Phase 3, in the hands of the presidents
Also on Monday, the sixth and final extension of Spain's state of alarm will take effect, due to last until 21st June. With this new extension, approved in the Spanish Congress this week, there will be substantial changes in who makes the rules. From Phase 3, the president of each autonomous community will be the competent delegated authority, who will make decisions on activities that are permitted or not, and will even decide when this last stage ends. Once all health districts graduate from Phase 3, the so-called "new normality" will apply and the state of alarm will be lifted. The only power that will remain exceptionally in the hands of the state will be mobility, in order to restrict it. But autonomous communities will be able to propose to the central health ministry for mobility to be opened between health zones in Phase 3, although not between autonomous communities.
To find out which Catalan health region a municipality belongs to, and which phase of the process it is in, the Catalan health service website provides this page.
GUIDE | Coronavirus de-escalation: which phase am I in and what can I do?
MAP | Coronavirus infections in Catalonia by municipalities and neighborhoods
GRAPHS & DATA | Latest coronavirus statistics for Catalonia and Spain