For The First Time Since 6 Weeks Spanish Children Can Play Outside The Home

Crowds in the City of Moia, Spain (Twitter / @ manuraortiz)

JAKARTA - Children across Spain are finally able to leave their homes for the first time after six weeks of implementing a quarantine policy. This is because the local government has relaxed restrictions that have prevented children under 14 years of age from leaving the house.

As reported by NPR, it is seen that the streets and parks in many cities are visited by children who ride bicycles and scooters. They are of course accompanied by their parents.

Most of the children who let go of this stress live in apartments that have no outdoor space. Many have not experienced fresh air and have not felt direct sunlight for more than a month.

However, photos and videos of their activities that were spread on Twitter also drew criticism. This is because many of them are not wearing masks and seem to have begun to ignore physical distancing.

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- Emma (@ Emma1492is) April 26, 2020

As is well known, Spain is one of the countries worst affected by COVID-19. There have been more than 226,000 positive cases in Spain with 23,000 deaths according to Johns Hopkins University.

This matador country is one of the countries implementing the strictest quarantine policy in Europe. Since the first lockdown on March 14, people in Spain have been unable to leave their homes unless they buy food, go to pharmacies or go to work if those who cannot work at home. Those who violate the rules are obliged to pay a fine of one thousand US dollars.

After the statistics of positive cases and deaths from COVID-19 in Spain decreased, and the government was under pressure from parents and political leaders, the authorities finally announced that starting last Sunday, children could leave home for an hour every day. The condition is that children must still be accompanied by their parents and must not travel more than one kilometer from their house.

In the city of Moia, about an hour and a half from Barcelona, resident Iris El Bourj takes her 8-year-old son Bruno and 4-year-old Alan to bike to the nearest square after lunch.

"This will let them exhaust their energy, especially those living in a small town like this," El Bourj was quoted as saying by NPR. "But one day is still lacking," he said.

Bruno and Alan used to play in their little backyard. However, this time they are grateful because they have been able to enjoy fresher air and direct sunlight.