Spain starts to follow the roadmap to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic

THE VALENCIAN GOVERNMENT has laid out plans to reduce the public health restrictions that were put in place on 21st January to combat the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic within the local community.

The special measures effectively closed social venues, bars, and restaurants to members of the public, with a permitted exception for the provision of takeaway food and drink to be consumed off of the premises.

But after almost six weeks, and in the face of falling numbers of active Coronavirus infections nationwide and a general decline in outbreaks across the peninsula, Valencian Community authorities are cautiously planning a roadmap to recovery.

The President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Ximo Puig, announced the initial relaxation of the new measures yesterday afternoon. The announcement marked the culmination of a week of discussion and negotiations between health ministers, interdepartmental government staff, and hospitality industry representatives.

Bars and restaurants on the Costa Blanca to open 1st March 2021

Local bars and restaurants form the cornerstone of any Spanish Mediterranean province. They are the economic engines of our local area, and the reactivation of the social sector is of paramount importance to the financial wellbeing of the Costa Blanca community.

After some initial confusion regarding the proposed opening date earlier this week, it has been confirmed that bars and restaurants will be able to reopen from this coming Monday 1st March. However, as with all of yesterday´s announcements, there are some noteworthy caveats.

Venues may open outside terraces only, and the interior space of premises is to remain closed to members of the public. Terraces may be occupied to a maximum of 75% of their licenced occupation with tables spaced apart for safety, and no more than 4 non-cohabiting people may sit at each table.

Controversially, bars and restaurants will be forced to close their terraces at 6:00 pm. Organisations representing the hostelry industry had hoped to negotiate a later closing time inline with the curfew, but ministers proved insistent that (for now) an earlier closing time is a more prudent and sustainable move.

Outdoor sports venues and golf courses to reopen

The Costa Blanca´s majestic golf courses and other outdoor sporting venues will also be permitted to reopen on Monday 1st March.

Residents will be able to take part in non-contact physical activity either alone or groups of up to 4 people from differing households. The previous requirement to wear a mask whilst exercising is also removed from current legislation.

Limitations still apply to social groups in both private and public spaces, but new rules permit meetings between a maximum of 4 people in public. Within the confines of private homes (both indoors and outdoors), only people from the same household may gather, and authorities are keen to limit social contact in homes.

Initial plans proposed allowing meetings between 2 people in private spaces, but this proposal was removed from the planned legislation yesterday evening.

Shops and shopping centres get longer opening hours

Grocery stores, food shops, pharmacies and other essential retail businesses continue to be exempt from restrictions on trading hours, but other non-essential retail venues can now open until 8:00 pm each day.

This is an increase of 2 hours per working day and means that shopping centres such as Zenia Boulevard in La Zenia can enjoy longer opening hours whilst still maintaining existing public health measures.

The perimeter closure of large cities is also removed from the list of temporary restrictions. The special measures were designed to curb mobility, and effectively sealed the municipal borders of Orihuela and our neighbouring city of Torrevieja each weekend.

Between 3:00 pm each Friday, until 6:00 am the following Monday, crossing the municipal boundaries has been prohibited except in specific legally-mandated circumstances. The measures apply to this weekend for the last time and will expire at 6:00 am on Monday 1st March.

Recovery roadmap, the start of Spain´s return to normality

Despite problems with the rollout of the European vaccination programme, Spain has administered almost 3.5 million doses of vaccine, with more than 1.2 million people receiving both required doses for complete treatment.

But with declining incidences of COVID-19 infection across the country and summer some way ahead, there may still be time to save the main tourist season.

Crucially, the new measures mark the start of a de-escalation process - a recovery roadmap toward a new, if slightly different normality in the foreseeable future following a year of global turmoil.

Please follow this link for full details of the legal resolution published by the Valencian Government (Spanish language PDF opens in a new window).