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ARCHIVED - Spanish Government publishes planned coronavirus restrictions for the festive season
Christmas markets will be permitted, 6 people can meet for social interaction and the regional governments will decide whether to open their regional borders for the festive period
The Spanish government has unveiled the coronavirus restrictions which are being proposed for the festive season this year.
The document will now be discussed with the health services of the 17 autonomous regional governments of Spain in the Wednesday meeting of the national health committee, the Consejo Interterritorial del Sistema Nacional de Salud, the aim being to create a homogenous plan which can be applied nationwide.
The festive season in Spain runs from Christmas Eve on December 24th and does not conclude until the 6th January (Epiphany), the main event for most Spanish families being the parade of the Three Kings on January 5th, the night on which Spanish children traditionally receive their gifts.
This is a long holiday period and it is normal for families to travel between relatives, meet with friends to celebrate and is a time in which a great deal of social contact inevitably takes place. Logically, the health department is extremely worried that the socialising during this period will lead to a third wave in January, a time during which the flu season normally begins with a vengeance after all the socialising and contacts during the festive period.
This year the emphasis is on recommendations to limit social contacts, reduce travel and keep family reunions to a minimum, although the government has no choice other than to accept that the public will not compromise on their desire to enjoy their festive break, so overly strict regulation will be difficult.
LAS 6M
The Spanish government has based its recommendations around “Las 6M”: Mascarilla (use of a mask at all times possible), Manos (frequent handwashing), Metros (maintaining a physical distance of 1.5 metres minimum), Maximizar ventilación y actividades al aire libre (maximise ventilation and undertake activities in the open-air wherever possible, keep windows open and ventilate any points where social contact takes place, Minimizar número de contactos (keep the number of contacts to a minimum, preferably keep the circle of social contacts tight and “Me quedo en casa si síntomas, diagnóstico o contacto” ( I will stay at home if I have symptoms, have been given a positive diagnosis or had a contact with a positive case.
One of the principal elements which is being left to the individual regional governments to control is travel. Theoretically, travel will be allowed from one province to another on condition that the regional government or governments concerned permit such movement. At the moment many regions have closed their external borders to limit movement and some regions indicated in the hours that followed the presentation of the draft document that they intended to maintain perimeter confinements unless case numbers dropped significantly.
The principal measures allow family gatherings and dinners with a maximum of 6 people in attendance on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve (except in more numerous households) and relaxing the night-time curfew until 1 a.m. on both nights.
As for the arrival of the Three Kings on the night of 5th January, the government’s recommendation is for “static processions” in locations with a strictly limited number of people in attendance. It will be possible to visit nativity scenes and to attend Christmas concerts at indoor venues as long as social distancing is maintained and attendance is restricted to 50 per cent of capacity, and similar restrictions are recommended for cinemas, theatres, circus tents and other venues.
Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve must end in time for churchgoers to return home before 1.00.
All of the recommendations included in the draft proposals are subject to potential modification, but in general terms it can be said that they are not vastly different from the restrictions which are already in place on mobility and social gatherings. There is great optimism regarding the availability of a Covid vaccine early next year, but of course in the meantime it is of primordial importance to avoid a “third wave” of contagion if at all possible, and in some ways the national government is being more cautious than those of some regions: in Catalunya, for example, gatherings of up to 10 people have been proposed and the Madrid government has already indicated that it would like to extend the group size to 10 people.
A separate part of the government’s plan concerns university students heading home for the holidays, the recommendation being that they should avoid socializing in the days prior to making their journeys and limit the number of people they see, especially indoors, once they reach their home towns.
It is also anticipated that residents of homes for the elderly will be allowed to go home to their families over Christmas, as long as they are tested for Covid before returning.
The public is advised to, "avoid or minimize" social gatherings such as "work celebrations, former students, sports clubs" and if they are held, they should also be for a maximum of 6 people and "preferably outside", outdoors or on open-air terraces.
Hospitality and commerce
The limitation of a maximum of 6 non-cohabiting people who may meet will also apply in the hotel industry, with a separation of 1.5 meters and "adequate natural or mechanical ventilation" required. Both indoors and on the terrace, in addition, "the message of using the mask when not eating or drinking and avoiding snacking will be reinforced." Smoking will continue to be prohibited, even on the terraces.
The coordinated Christmas strategy also mentions the retail sector giving it time to "prepare" to "adapt" to the measures that are recommended. Thus, it is committed to "promoting shopping in small neighborhood businesses, since it favors the reduction of crowds", that purchases are made "staggered" and "in advance" to avoid large gatherings of people in town centres.
The regional governments will decide individual capacity limits for their regional retail sector and govern opening hours, as well as decide the capacity in shopping centres.
Christmas markets can be organized in the open air, also with established capacity levels.