ARCHIVED - New normality to begin in Spain on 22nd June after gradual lockdown de-escalation – if the pandemic continues to subside

The government presents the first outline of a 4-phase lockdown de-escalation plan

As the extent of the coronavirus pandemic in Spain continues to subside significantly, the number of new cases confirmed on Monday having been lower than at any time since the state of emergency was declared on 14^th March, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez provided the first guidelines for an eight-week plan to gradually de-escalate the lockdown restrictions which remain in force.

There is great expectation regarding an announcement which is pending for the coming weekend, when the government is expected to allow all adults out of the home for an hour a day after making it possible for children to venture out into the great outdoors last Sunday (please note, the government still has to confirm details of these plans which are being debated by parliament and will be announced later in the week), but after that the plans outlined by Sr Sánchez on Tuesday consist of a four-phase de-escalation which, for almost the entire country, will start on Monday 4^th May and last for seven weeks.

The only exceptions are four islands in the Balearics and the Canaries where the incidence of Covid-19 is extremely low – it had been speculated that Murcia could be added to this list of “early starters”, but in the end all mainland areas will start from the same point at the same time.

From then onwards, however, there may be different rates of progression in each of Spain’s 50 provinces, depending on how the pandemic develops or recedes. For this reason the dates given below are all hypothetical, and are supplied on the basis that developments continue to be positive in each province, allowing the next phase to begin.

If there is a resurgence of infection, provinces may be held back – rather like a pupil at school being held back a year – and the process of de-escalation delayed: these decisions will be made by the government in conjunction with health authorities at fortnightly assessments on the grounds of the criteria already established regarding the state of the pandemic and the capacity of the health services to deal with it.

While presenting the outline plan the Prime Minister stressed that in all the phases precautions such as the wearing of facemasks in public will continue to be strongly advised, and that this will continue into the “new normality” of the summer.

There are many details still to be discussed and confirmed, and many questions remain unanswered at present, but the outline of the pathway towards the new normality are as follows (REMEMBER: THE DATES ARE CONDITIONAL ON PROGRESS CONTINUING TO BE MADE):

4th to 10^th May

Phase 0 – preparation for de-escalation

During this phase some small retail outlets and other commercial enterprises will be allowed  to re-open to the public, although only when customers are able to make prior appointments for individualized attention.

In these establishments precautionary distancing measures such as screens and counters must be installed.

Bars and restaurants will be allowed to offer takeaway food rather than only home deliveries.

Hairdressers may be allowed to open – clarification is awaited.

Professional sports teams will be allowed to return to training.

The current regulations regarding children leaving their homes for an hour a day will be maintained.

The new regulations regarding adults leaving their homes to take exercise will come into force: the nature of these regulations has yet to be confirmed.

This phase will apply to all parts of Spain except four of the islands: La Gomera, La Graciosa and El Hierro in the Canaries and Formentera in the Balearics. Due to the low number of coronavirus cases on these islands – zero in the case of La Graciosa – they will pass directly onto Phase 1 as of 4^th May.

11th to 24th May: Phase 1

Some limited social gatherings may be permitted among small groups of people with no indication of infection.

It will now be permitted for customers to enjoy a drink on an outdoor terrace at bars and restaurants, although the number of clients permitted will be restricted to 30 per cent of capacity. The wearing of facemasks will continue to be strongly recommended.

During this phase it will NOT be possible to visit the homes of friends and relatives.

Hotels, other tourist accommodation and small shops will now be allowed to open for business, but with certain restrictions: the number of people allowed to use the facilities will be restricted, and communal areas (such as swimming pools in hotels) will remain closed.

In shops and other businesses a preferential timetable for clients aged over 65 will be established.

Some local street markets may be authorized if sufficient social distancing can be guaranteed.

Large shopping malls will remain closed.

All businesses involved in food production will be allowed to resume their activity.

It is possible that cultural events may be held for audiences of up to 30 people indoors (and a maximum of a third of capacity) and 200 people outdoors (seated and with at least 2 metres between those attending).

Open-air sports facilities for non-contact sports such as tennis may be allowed to open. Indoor facilities such as gymnasia are under consideration.

Churches, mosques and other places of worship will be allowed to hold services but with the number of people attending limited to a third of capacity.

25^th May to 7^th June - Phase 2

Permitted social contact will be made more extensive.

This phase will see the re-opening of cultural venues such as cinemas, theatres, exhibition centres and monuments, although with restrictions such as only a third of capacity being used and attendees or visitors being pre-assigned seats or spaces. Open-air concerts with audiences of up to 400 will be permitted, with all those attending seated.

Schools will be allowed to re-open in order to offer “reinforcement” classes to those pupils for whom they are deemed necessary, and in order to take care of children aged 6 or under whose parents are obliged to go to work. In addition, schools may be used as venues for the university entrance exams which are held at the end of the academic year.

However, normal schooling will not resume until September.

Bars and restaurants will now be allowed to welcome clients indoors, always providing “guarantees of distancing” and service at tables rather than at the bar, again, with reduced capacity.

Hotels and other tourist accommodation will be allowed to open communal zones such as swimming pools to a third of capacity.

Hunting and angling will be permitted.

Cultural venues will now be allowed to increase the number of people visiting or in the audience to 50 per cent of capacity.

Those owning second homes may go to them from the 25th May onwards providing the property is located within the same province. In the case of the Murcia Region, the region is classified as being one province, so those owning properties who live in Murcia city, but have a second property on La Manga del Mar Menor, may go to their second property. However, those living outside of the region (ie their habitual residence is in Madrid, but they own a holiday property in La Manga,) are NOT allowed to travel here until after the 22nd June.

8th to 21st June – Phase 3

It is at this point that the government intends to become more flexible in terms of “general mobility”, allowing people to travel greater distances and for a wider variety of purposes. However, travel will not be possible between provinces in phase 3 and those remaining in phase 2.

Shops and businesses will now be able to cater for 50 per cent of their full capacity, always maintaining social distancing of 2 metres.

Shopping malls will now be allowed to re-open with the maximum footfall restricted to 50 per cent of capacity, and again maintaining social distancing of 2 metres.

The restrictions on bars and restaurants will be relaxed further, although details have yet to be specified.

It is generally understood in the media that during this phase visits to the homes of friends and relatives will be permitted.

It has been inferred that the beaches will be open to the public: nothing has yet been finalized concerning what precautionary measures will be established.

Wedding celebrations will be permitted with a limited number of guests.

By the end of Phase 3 provinces will be ready to embark on the “new normality” in Spain, a situation which, if all goes well in the meantime, will begin on Monday 22^nd June.

It cannot be stressed strongly enough that this new normality is dependent on the pandemic continuing to subside in all parts of the country, as the implementation of each successive phase depends on the fortnightly reviews of individual provinces made by the government, but if everything were to go well throughout the country then before the end of June it will once more be possible to travel freely within Spain.

In the meantime, remember: LOCKDOWN MEANS LOCKDOWN. STAY AT HOME. STAY SAFE AND DO YOUR BIT TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS.

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What to do if you are in the Region of Murcia and believe you may have contracted the virus

The regional government has set up a special helpline to supply information to members of the public (900 121212) if they suspect that they may have contracted the virus rather than going straight to hospital or to a medical centre.

Sensible precautions

The advice being issued to members of the public by medical authorities all over the world coincides on the following points:

- Wash hands frequently with either soap and water or a sanitiser gel

- Catch coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues – and throw the tissues away immediately after use before immediately washing your hands!

- If you don’t have a tissue, use your sleeve – and wash the item of clothing used at the next opportunity

- AVOID touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

- AVOID close contact with people who are unwell

- Don´t panic!