ITALY TO LIFT TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AS CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN EASES - WHILE SPAIN EXTENDS BAN ON PEOPLE ENTERING COUNTRY

Evening Standard 16 May 2020 - by Kit Heren

Italy will allow people to leave and enter the country from early June as its coronavirus lockdown continues to ease.

The new rules, which will come into force from June 3, come as Italians are also allowed to travel within their own region from Monday.

Italy has had one of the worst death tolls related to coronavirus in Europe, with more than 31,000 fatalities according to Johns Hopkins University.

The Italian Government locked the country down in early March in a bid to slow the spread of the virus - the first European country to do so.

But Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has been gradually easing restrictions since the start of the month, with some workplaces and parks reopening on May 4.

Restaurants and cafes are set to welcome customers again from next week, while churches will also open their doors to worshippers on Monday.

Strict social distancing rules are still in place throughout the country, and as in other countries Mr Conte has warned that restrictions could come back if the infection rate jumps again.

"If you love Italy, you keep your distance," Mr Conte told Italians last month.

© Provided by Evening Standard Metro passengers in Milan (AFP via Getty Images)

The easing of international travel restrictions in Italy comes as Spain extended its ban on people leaving and entering the country.

Spain, which has suffered a similar number of coronavirus-linked deaths to Italy, has also had similar lockdown measures in place for several weeks.

The Spanish Government has begun rolling back some of the restrictions since the start of May, with restaurants and bars with outdoor seating reopening and some people going back to work.

© Provided by Evening Standard Spain has allowed some small businesses to reopen (Getty Images)

But in a blow to Brits dreaming of a late spring getaway, Spain has extended its ban on foreigners and non-residents entering the country to June 15.

Brits have even been warned not to fly to Gibraltar to the south of Spain and try to cross the land border.

Spanish people arriving back home from abroad are being quarantined for 14 days in a new rule in place since Friday.