Five airports and eight sea ports reopened to international arrivals

Barcelona's Josep Tarradellas-El Prat, Madrid's Adolfo Suárez-Barajas, and the terminals in Gran Canaria, Palma de Mallorca and Málaga-Costa del Sol are the airports now serving as entry points into Spain.

Valencia is not on the list, but is expecting to restart national flights shortly and hopes, along with Alicante, to be able to resume international connections before summer.

Anyone needing, and allowed, to reach Valencia from outside the country, however, could get there by ship – it is one of the eight ports now open, including those of Barcelona, Bilbao, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Palma de Mallorca, Vigo (Galicia) and Tenerife.

They are limited in number, because the government needs to guarantee all sea ports and airports have enough healthcare staff and equipment on hand in case of emergencies.

And these are the only entry points to the country that have on-site emergency facilities for international arrivals, which were set up in accordance with an agreement among the Council of Ministers in March 2014.

In practice, during 'normal' times, emergency healthcare, fire protection or police security is never lacking, because it can be summoned from the nearest town and can be there within seconds – in fact, Valencia airport is only around 500 metres from the hospital in Manises, its closest municipality.

Ships transporting cargo exclusively, or arriving in port for humanitarian, medical or emergency reasons, and 'State' ships, are not limited to the eight entry points.

The list can be extended at a later date, and the limits on entry points are only currently in force until May 24 – although this is expected to be reviewed and continued – so other airports or ports considered necessary may join them soon.

In the Canary Islands, for example, the regional government has applied for Tenerife South airport to be included.