Some businesses in Spain have been allowed to reopen as the country heads into its second month of lockdown. The Guardian reports that non-essential workers in industries like manufacturing and construction have been allowed to return — tentatively — to work.
At some public transportation hubs, police handed out masks to commuting citizens. As of Monday, the Madrid public transport system had seen a 34% increase in passengers from two weeks previous.
Prime minister Pedro Sánchez reportedly consulted a "committee of scientific experts" when making the decision to restart those sectors.
"The health of workers must be guaranteed. If this is minimally affected, the activity cannot restart," interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said, according to The Guardian.
However, the rest of the country remains under lockdown until at least April 26. Everyone else is only allowed to leave to purchase food or medication, visit the sick, go to the hospital, or walk dogs.
Bars, restaurants, and hotels are still closed across the country.
"We have only one objective, which is to defeat the coronavirus," Sánchez said in a national address. "We are all on the same team."
The country has had more than 19,315 deaths and 184,948 cases, both among the most worldwide.