Fed up locals in Barcelona defied social distancing and flocked to beaches over the weekend despite a spike in the number of infections.
On Friday, four million residents were advised to stay at home as much as possible in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.
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Officials said people should only leave their home for essential trips.
But thousands of people ignored the stay-at-home calls, with popular Barceloneta beach having to close on Sunday after it reached capacity, while police patrolled in masks to ensure social distancing.
Asked why he had decided to visit the beach, sunbather Felipe, 24, who was wearing a mask, said: “Staying at home in the summer is stifling and stressful,”
“I work five days a week and can’t spend every day at home. My mental health comes first."
Spain ended its national state of emergency on June 21 so people in England can now visit without having to quarantine upon returning.
It was one of Europe’s hardest-hit countries by COVID-19, with more than 28,000 deaths recorded so far
But the latest figures from Catalonia’s regional health ministry show a daily increase of 944 cases on Sunday.
Last week gyms, theatres and cinemas in the affected regions shut down.
The new advice to stay at home is the strongest measure taken to returning people to confinement since lockdown ended.
Last week, Meritxell Budo, spokesman for the Catalan government, said residents should stay at home as much as possible.
He said: “We ask citizens not to leave home unless it’s strictly necessary.
“We also urge people not to travel to second homes this weekend.
“We are being obliged to take this step backwards.
"We urge people to demonstrate maximum awareness and put an end to the relaxation we have been seeing in the last few weeks.”
