Spain has been engaged for a few days in the “desescalada”, the deconfinement plan which will be divided into 4 phases. Each will include specific rules and prohibitions depending on the sector and activity, and each region will be assessed individually. As of Monday, May 4th, Spain is entering phase 1 of the deconfinement plan, authorizing certain businesses and services to open again. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you all about what changed this Monday, May 4th in Spain during this phase 1 of the deconfinement plan.

The Official Journal of the Spanish State published on Sunday five decrees specifying the measures that the Spanish government has implemented throughout the week. The aim is to clarify the conditions necessary to change the phase, as well as the changes that affect the daily life of the Spanish.

Mandatory masks

From Monday 4th May, the use of masks covering the nose and mouth will be compulsory for all users of public transport. Spanish government will distribute 14 million so that the rule can be respected. These will be the same masks that are already sold in some supermarkets. In addition, it will also be mandatory to wear it in private vehicles when there are people who do not live in the same home.

Transportation

In private vehicles with up to nine seats, including the driver, two people can move for each row of seats, provided that they all use masks and respect the maximum possible distance between the occupants. In regular public transport in which all occupants must travel seated, no more than half of the available seats can be occupied. In all cases, in buses, the row after the seat occupied by the driver will always be empty. In the collective public transport of urban and peri-urban travelers (metro, bus), where there is the transport of standing passengers, the occupation will be two standing passengers per square meter.

Shops

Shops of less than 400 square meters can be opened to the public. This will only be by appointment, which must be arranged by email or by phone. The gossips must reserve a priority timetable for those over 65, which must coincide with the time slot allocated to them for walks: from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

There cannot be more than one client per employee. In addition, businesses must comply with specific hygiene measures: if clothes or shoes are sold, each item of clothing, as well as the changing rooms, must be disinfected after each use. A disinfection of the premises will be necessary twice a day, including one when it is closed. Employee uniforms should be washed daily with water above 60 degrees. Guests cannot use the restroom unless necessary. Finally, if a safety distance of two meters cannot be respected, protective masks will be compulsory and all companies must make hydroalcoholic gels available to their customers.

Restaurants

Until now in Spain, restaurants could only offer home delivery. But from Monday, it will be possible to go there to collect your meal, provided that the security conditions are met. There must be a barrier between employees and customers. At the entrance to establishments, there must be hydroalcoholic gels and at the exit, trash cans with non-manual lid, equipped with a trash bag. Orders must be placed in advance by phone or online to avoid crowds.

Works

The rehabilitation works can be carried out in the houses and the premises, which had been suspended since the entry into force of the alarm state. They can only be carried out when there is no interference between workers and the residents or employees of the property. The delimitation of entry and exit times for workers must be respected.

Archives

In general, all requests to consult the archive must be made electronically, but if this is essential, they can be in person as of this Monday. Up to 10 documents per day are authorized. Those that have been used will be quarantined for 10 days until someone else can see them.

Sport and professional athletes

Athletes qualified by the Superior Sports Council as being of high level or of national interest, can follow an individual training, outside, in the province where they reside. They can freely access, if necessary, the natural spaces in which they must exercise their sports activities, such as the sea, rivers or water reservoirs. The duration and timing of their training will not be limited and may be accompanied by a coach and another companion in the event of Paralympic arrangements. Other federated athletes can train individually, outdoors, twice a day, between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., within the limits of the municipal area in which they reside. They will also be able to access the natural spaces they need in order to train.

Island

There are four islands (La Gomera, La Graciosa, El Hierro in the Canary Islands, and Formentera in the Balearic Islands) which enter this Monday directly into phase 1, which the rest of the territories will only be able to access if they meet the conditions from May 11. For these islands, groups of up to 10 people will be allowed, always keeping the safety distance.

Shops less than 400 meters away can open to the public without an appointment, but with a capacity reduction of 30%. Foreign markets can also reopen, with a capacity of 25% of the usual stalls and a third of the influx. In addition, the capacity for funerals is extended to 15 people.

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