Date Published: 28/03/2020
ARCHIVED - Sunday opening resumes: National government over-rules the regional government
ARCHIVED ARTICLE Food shops which are normally open on a Sunday can do so as normal says the national government
Click here for safety rules which should be observed when shopping in supermarkets including the ONE PERSON ONLY IN A CAR RULE.
Well it’s a good thing internet users don´t have to wait a week for the printed papers to keep them up to date with the latest information, as it keeps changing every 5 minutes!!!!!
Last weekend the regional government insisted that all supermarkets and food stores in the coastal municipalities and those most frequented by the owners of holiday homes must close on Sunday as well as shorten their opening hours during the week as part of measures to try and deter city dwellers from heading to the coast and their second properties to get away from the risk of coronavirus in the more densely populated cities.
Police and roadblocks were also placed on the roads in the most transited locations to send second home owners back to their habitual residence, following a mass migration of property owners from Madrid to the coastal regions the weekend before, a situation which had prompted the original lockdown order.
However, the national government has intervened and informed the regional government that it doesn´t have the power to over-ride the conditions established by the State of Emergency and has obliged the regional government to publish an order in the BOE authorising the opening of supermarkets and food stores within the areas classified as being tourism zones, namely Moratalla, Águilas, Los Alcázares, San Javier, San Pedro del Pinatar, Cartagena, El Berro (Alhama), Portmán (La Unión), Mazarrón and Puntas de Calnegre (Lorca).
The regional government has responded in writing to the Ministry of Health arguing that urgent measures are required in order to combat the crisis and defends its decision, which it says is supported by several of the affected councils.
The unions are also unhappy about the decision, believing their members working in the supermarkets need to rest, are under particular stress and are at risk as the number of cases continues to rise.
However, the State of Emergency gives central government the power to over-rule the regional government in this case, and so tomorrow, food stores and supermarkets which habitually open on a Sunday, will be permitted to do so once again.
But of course, that situation may well change yet again in the next 5 minutes!!!!!!
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!