ARCHIVED - Workers in non-essential services in Spain will return to work next Monday

But hopes of a quick end to the coronavirus lockdown in Spain could lead to disappointment

As the fourth week of the coronavirus lockdown in Spain nears its end people are becoming more and more insistent on looking forward to the end of the restrictions, and with the shutdown of all economic activity other than “non-essential” services ending over the long Easter weekend the first step along that long path will effectively be taken on Monday morning when millions of Spaniards return to work.

But before the restrictions on the general population can start to be lifted a lot of progress still has to be made, and with daily death totals still at over 700 there is practically no chance of “normal” life resuming before May at the very earliest. Nonetheless, so keen are people to see an end to the lockdown that some are clutching at statements made on Tuesday to the effect that the state of alarm could start to be “de-escalated” as of next week, although in truth the actual process of lifting restrictions will take a lot longer.

It could be argued that the return to work of part of the workforce has been forced upon the government by the need to ensure that economic activity does not grind to a halt, and that it would be preferable in some ways to prolong the shutdown.

What has officially been announced is that a working committee is to be set up to analyse which restrictive measures should be lifted first and when, but it is hard to see any relaxation of the ban on leaving home unnecessarily just yet. Apart from any other considerations, it appears to be the intention to make the resumption of activities such as jogging conditional on the obligatory wearing of facemasks, and until a reliable supply of affordable and effective masks can be guaranteed at all pharmacies throughout the country that is not an option.

It is worth considering also that for schools to re-open successfully it would be necessary for parents to be willing to allow their children to attend: in Murcia at present that is, for the moment and in the case of most parents, completely unthinkable and the same can be said for teaching staff.

Manuel Villegas, the minister for Health in Murcia, reports that neither he nor his counterparts in other regions yet knows what restrictions might be lifted first, confirming only that the working committee is to be set up. He also pointed out that if more extensive Covid-19 testing reveals what is suspected, that the level of contagion in Murcia is lower than elsewhere in the country, then this means that fewer people have developed immunity to the virus and greater caution is therefore required.

In short, then, with the latest figures on Wednesday showing another 757 coronavirus-related deaths to take the total up to 14,555, hopes of a quick relaxation of the lockdown would appear to be ungrounded. It may be tempting to pray for an Easter miracle, but it is far more realistic to adopt the attitude that we may be lucky if it turns out that the end of the fourth week marks the halfway point in our confinement to our homes.

From Monday however, non-essential services, which include many trade services, will be permitted to return to work, basically, the same businesses which were allowed to continue working after the first declaration of the state of emergency when restaurants, retailers etc, were forced to close. However, this will NOT include restaurants and the hostelry sector, hotels, tourism businesses, retail shops selling anything other than non-essential supplies or any businesses involved in activities which bring people together.

Current Guardia Civíl information about who can work etc as of today. This will change considerably on Monday as the non-essentials return to work: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MfyUQEJGAtV5L6ncDV7kByxADoeeCHX4/view?fbclid=IwAR0c6sUUR7Vi6hcikJ0YVI0gxqYadRdd2n79Q2_Rsrt8Rt6Y4wy_c7gvjW0

Essential services

The “essential” services and activities identified by the government are the following:

1. Those which form part of the supply and distribution of food and other essential products (drinks, animal food, hygiene products, medication, health products and any other goods necessary for healthcare).
2. Food prepared for home delivery.
3. The production and distribution of health products and services, health technology, medical equipment and materials, protective equipment, healthcare and hospital equipment and other healthcare products. This includes opticians, orthopaedics, etc.
4. Essential activity for the maintenance of production activity in manufacturing industries: supplies, equipment and materials needed for the adequate functioning of the essential activities listed.
5. Transport services (for both passengers and goods) (including fuel supply) which are being maintained during the state of emergency.
6. Services for prisons, civil protection, maritime rescue, fore prevention and firefighting, mining security, traffic control and road safety. Private security firms working on transport security and in other areas and security services for goods being supplied to the population.
7. The maintenance of materials and equipment for the armed forces.
8. Health centres, services and establishments, carers for the elderly, the young, the disabled and other dependents, those working in R&D centres and other bio-technological centres related to Covid-19.
9. Animal health centres and services.
10. Media sales outlets, the media and news agencies (both publicly and privately owned), as well as those involved in the printing and distribution of the media. And tobacconists.
11. Financial services companies, including banks, insurance and investment firms, for essential services.
12. Telecommunications and audiovisual companies and essential IT services, as well as networks and support facilities and the sectors which are necessary to support them.
13. Services related to the protection and support of gender violence victims.
14. Lawyers and other professionals in the sector, translators, interpreters and psychologists working on procedures which have not been suspended.
15. Services in administrative offices including legal and financial advisers, the prevention of risks in the workplace and others for matters of urgency.
16. Notaries, registry offices and similar services.
17. Cleaning, repairs and maintenance services, security services, waste collection and treatment services, waste water treatment, decontamination activities and others related to the sector.
18. Refugee and immigrant detention centres.
19. Water supply, treatment, distribution and sanitization.
20. Meteorological services including forecasting and observation and the maintenance and security of such activities.
21. Postal services including collection, delivery, transport, classification and distribution.
22. Sectors involved in the import and supply of health material along with companies involved in logistics, transport, storage and customs procedures.
23. The distribution and delivery of products purchased online, by telephone or by mail.
24. Electricity generation and supply.
25. Ports and airports.

Dry cleaners, motor mechanics and others are also exempt, although they may operate only by prior appointment and behind closed doors: a car can be repaired, but the owner is required to deliver it and then leave the mechanics to do their work before collecting it later.

Notable absences from this list include the construction sector, which accounts for around 10 per cent of Spain’s GDP.

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!