The De-escalation Plan in Spain

[Captain Sensible]

This information is very recent and I imagine more details will be published over the coming days. Below is a summary:

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez held a press conference this evening to explain the government’s plans for the de-escalation of Coronavirus confinement measures in Spain.
In English it is called a ‘Plan for the Transition Toward a New Normality’ and was approved today by the Government.  He said it took into account the lessons from other places and then adapting them to the diversity and reality of Spain.  He said that the plan was to protect the health and lives of Spaniards. The Plan will be gradual, asymmetrical (according to the regions) and co-ordinated.
He said there will be no mobility between provinces or islands until normality returns.

The Plan is in 4 stages:

Phase 0 – the phase for the preparation of de-escalation (which we are in now). This phase would involve the reopening of businesses that can take bookings. For example, restaurants that can offer food to take away.

Phase 1 – this will allow in each defined territory the partial re-opening of small businesses under strict safety measures. This does not include shopping centers where big crowds could gather. Hotels and tourist apartments are included, but not those with common areas. He also said that there would be a timetable for over-65’s to shop in retail outlets, and that the use of masks on public transport would be highly recommended. Churches would also be able to open but only to a capacity of 30%.

Phase 2 – this would allow restaurants to open their dining areas. Schools would re-open for children aged under six if their parents have to go to work, and so that students can complete their university application processes and exams. Cultural Events will be possible with fewer than 50 people in interior spaces, and for open air Events, there will have to be less than 400 people , and they will have to be seated. Cinemas and theatres could also re-open with a third of their capacity.

Phase 3 – is the advanced phase.

It is predicted that each phase will last at least 2 weeks, and if all goes well, then the phases will last a total of 8 weeks.
Pedro Sanchez said that, “By the end of June, as a country we will be in the new normality if the evolution of the epidemic is under control in all territories,” he said. “This weekend individual physical activity will be allowed, as will walks. On May 4, all territories will enter phase 0, and given the low number of infections and if the progress allows for it, Formentera, the Balearics, Gomera, El Hierro and Graciosa in the Canary Islands will enter Phase 1 a few days later.

“On May 11, all of the provinces that meet the requisites will enter Phase 1, and the Health Ministry will evaluate the markers on a two-weekly basis.
“There is no closed and uniform Calendar, and we will advance in each place as quickly as the epidemic permits,” he said. “When we conclude the de-escalation we can say that each province has reached a situation of new normality until a vaccine arrives.”


https://www.canarias7.es/nacional/el-gob...-BX9123300 and other sources

 

[windermeregolfer]

Personally I think this good and bad news. 

I acknowledge the island need the tourists to re build the economy but IMHO whilst Fuerteventura may have the crisis sorted and be returning to some sort of normality, what ever future normality will be, tourists should only be allowed to come to the island if the country they originate / travel from has met certain criteria in relation to having dealt with the pandemic in that country.
Airports and airlines should have some form of testing in place before passengers board the plane.  As Tamara has indicated in the Chat section who wants to be in a crowded airport or couped up on a plane with the risk of a fellow passenger being infected.

One has to toddle before you walk before you run.

[Sam]

...Airports and airlines should have some form of testing in place before passengers board the plane...

CEO of Jet2, Steave Heapy told to Torres about being in favour of establishing passengers tests, before boarding. Let's see how it'll get on. Here's more about the meeting.

[beachlife]

I quote "This weekend individual physical activity will be allowed, as will walks." Unquote

Not much detail here on this so far. So does this mean we can go for a walk from Saturday outside, was talk of 2 KM distance only but no distance or time specified. Individual does that mean the walk has to be by yourself or can you walk with someone else as long as they are 2 metres away? Hoping we get some more meat on the bones before Saturday. can just see everyone waiting for someone to venture out on Saturday morning not wanting to be the first one grabbed by the GC.

Anyone come across any further information on what we can do or can`t do this weekend.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

From El Pais today (a little more detail on some points):

The much-awaited de-escalation of Spain’s coronavirus confinement measures will allow for citizens to recover their freedom of movement, but bit by bit. No travel will be permitted to other provinces, without justification (such as to work), at least until the end of June. Until then, traveling to another part of Spain to visit relatives or for leisure will not be allowed.
Phase 0
This phase will be one of preparation, and will see citizens able to go outside for exercise or for walks from this weekend onward. The government is yet to publish the details of the conditions for these trips out onto the street.
Individual training will also be permitted for professional sportsmen and women, as well as basic training for professional leagues.
Small businesses will be able to open if they can offer appointments, such as hardware stores or restaurants that offer food to take away.
You will also be able to book appointments at the hairdresser from this coming Monday onward. Staff in such establishments will have to wear protective equipment, such as masks and gloves.
Phase 1
From May 10, when Phase 1 of the government’s plan is due to begin, journeys to second residences will be allowed providing that they are in the same province, but if they are in a different province, such trips will not be allowed until at least the end of June.
What’s more, the government is recommending the use of masks on public transport, where it is not always possible to maintain a distance of two meters with other travelers.
Phase 1 is likely to be implemented from May 4 in Formentera (Balearic Islands), La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa (Canary Islands), due to the low transmission rate of the Coronavirus there.
During Phase 1, social contact between people in the same city who are not considered to be at risk – i.e. the elderly and people with underlying conditions – will be possible.
You will also be able to travel in a car with the people you live with under the conditions of Phase 1.
Sidewalk cafés will be able to open, albeit at 30% of their usual capacity. This means that you will be able to have a drink with friends on a terrace, but not visit your family members in another province.
You will also be able to meet with friends or family in their homes if they are in the same province, but the details of how many people can meet and the conditions are yet to be determined.
Hotels will also be able to reopen, but there will be no common areas available to guests, such as the buffet.
Phase 2
The government has not set specific dates for each phase, and implementation could vary from province to province depending on the situation of the outbreak. But when Phase 2 arrives, citizens will be able to enter the inside of bars and restaurants, with a limit of 30% of capacity. Cinemas, theaters and auditoriums will also reopen with a similar limit on capacity, as well as monuments and exhibition centers.
At this point, cultural Events such as concerts will be possible, albeit with a third of their usual capacity. At outdoor Events, up to 400 people will be allowed, provided they are seated.
Visits to people in homes with disabilities will be allowed, but not to seniors.
Schools will offer classes for the children under the age of six if their parents require it to be able to go to work, while students will also be able to complete their university entrance exams.
Schools in Spain will not reopen fully until September.
Phase 3
Phase 3 will see the relaxation of mobility restrictions, albeit with a continued recommendation to wear masks outside of the home, and above all, on public transport. This phase is likely to be implemented in mid-June, and will allow for visits to senior homes, under conditions that will be established at a future date. Bars will be able to open with a limit of 50% of capacity.
As for beaches and swimming pools, there will be more details on their use specified in the future. Shoppers will be able to enter establishments, but there will be a limit on capacity and they will have to observe social distancing of two meters.
“New normality”
The last stage – referred to by the government as “the new normality” – should arrive at the end of June provided there is no upsurge of the virus. “Mobility between provinces will arrive when we get to the new normality,” said Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at a press conference on Tuesday evening.
But some provinces could get to this stage before others, meaning that travel between them will only be possible if they are both in the same situation.
There has, as yet, been no confirmation of when national flights and non-essential train journeys will be possible once more.
“We want to highlight the use of other plans for mobility in our plans, reclaiming urban spaces for pedestrians and bicycles in order to avoid a rise in the use of private vehicles and a worsening of noise levels, air quality and traffic jams,” the prime minister said on Tuesday.
The executive is planning on recommending the use of bikes, public spaces for those on foot, as well as other measures including home working where possible, and staggered start times in workplaces to avoid crowds on public transport.
The markers for each change of phase will depend on:

• The strategic capacity of Spain’s health system, including primary care, the situation in hospitals and the number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds available.
  
  
• The epidemiological situation, including testing, the infection rate and other indicators.
  
  
• The collective compliance with protection measures in the workplace, businesses and public transport.
  
  
• The evaluation of mobility and socioeconomic data.
  

[windermeregolfer]

Thanks Tamara, still more meat on the bones needed before Saturday, one question I have is what is a "Province" ?

[Perrypower1]

A simple way to think of it is, United are states, and divided are provinces.

That is too simplistic to cover all cases but it helps to get the concept ingrained.  

In Spain we have Autonomous Communities, ours is the Canary Islands.  The AC’s are divided into Provinces, ours is Las Palmas.   In Spain these are further divided into Municipalities, you and I live in Antigua.  

[windermeregolfer]

A simple way to think of it is, United are states, and divided are provinces.

That is too simplistic to cover all cases but it helps to get the concept ingrained.  

In Spain we have Autonomous Communities, ours is the Canary Islands.  The AC’s are divided into Provinces, ours is Las Palmas.   In Spain these are further divided into Municipalities, you and I live in Antigua.  

Thanks Perrypower, that's what I thought but wanted confirmation, so once we move to phase one, which doesn't look as though it going to happen before May 17th, neighbours who live in Las Palmas and have a villa here can start to come for their weekend retreat here?

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

No, see Sanchez first para in Captain's post. No travel between provinces/Islands until New Norm.

[Spitfire58]

If that is the case then travel within the “province of Las Palmas” means between islands, ie, Gran Canaria & Fuerte (unless overruled by the “no island travel” bit) as said, more clarification needed on some points because you know that some will try it on !!