Spain brings forward border opening for Schengen countries to June 21

Spain will open its borders to countries in the European Union's Schengen area on June 21, ten days before previously announced, except for Portugal where the border will open on July 1, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a televised speech on Sunday. 

One of the world's most visited destinations, Spain is still closed to tourists, and those allowed to travel from abroad have to undergo a 14-day quarantine. 

The new date coincides with the lifting of the emergency Spain clamped on the country from mid-March to fight COVID-19 as fatalities soared. Spain has recorded more than 27,00 deaths in the pandemic, one of the highest tolls around the world. 

But by Monday, more than 70 percent of Spain's 47 million population will be in the final stage of a phased rollback of the lockdown that should finish by June 21.

The European Commission has recommended that the 27 EU members fully reopen their frontiers with each other on June 15, and many countries are planning to do so. Italy reopened its borders on June 3, lifting all restrictions for travelers from within Europe. 

Madrid has declared the virus under control, but Sanchez alluded to fears that opening the borders could provoke a new surge, saying, "It's a critical moment but we are prepared." Travelers who arrived in Spain after May 15 and had to go into quarantine will see the end of their period in isolation on June 21, Sanchez added.