MADRID: Spaniards were allowed to ditch their face masks for a walk in the park or a trip to the beach on Saturday (Jun 26) for the first time in more than a year, but some people were in no rush to dispense with their facial protection against COVID-19.

"I'm surprised because I expected to see many people without masks, but most are still wearing them," said Manuel Mas, 40, a singer, in the centre of the capital, Madrid.