Spain announces Plan of Transition
Abreu Events working on a risk management procedure
Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, announced late last week the news about the so called ‘Plan of Transition towards new normal program’, whose main goal is to protect health in Spain. The Government decided to create a different formula from the rest of the countries, based on 4 stages (0, 1, 2 and 3) to be carried out among Spanish provinces and islands. Each stage will last two weeks having specific criteria (based on transmission, urgency, detection and response capacity against pandemic of every city) to change from one stage to another. Thus, the final decision to move or go back in stages will be made in conjunction with Autonomous Regions (local governments).
Thus, the transition is expected to last between six and eight weeks. From 4th of May practically all the country started in stage 0. Please see below the 4 stages of the program:
STAGE 0 (Preparatory stage)
Spain officially stated this stage by 4th of May. It began with the possibility for children under 14 year olds to go out and for adults to start practicing individual open air sports by 2nd of May. Besides, the small local shops started to open with pre-schedule arrangement and individual assistance, as well as, restaurants, however just for take-away services. By the 11th of May, all the provinces fulfilling the specific requirements will move to stage 1.
STAGE 1 (Initial stage)
From 11th of May, many activities such as, libraries, cultural shows, museums, cinema and series recording with specific safety restrictions will be re-opened with the exception of malls and department stores. By contrast, shops under 400 sq. meters size will open without the need of previous scheduling with clients. As for tourism and leisure industries, both bars and restaurants´ terraces will be opened with just 50% of its terrace capacity and hotels and touristic accommodation properties will open with the impossibility of using common areas. Small groups of maximum 10 people are allowed to gather at their homes, restaurants’ terraces and also open air spaces, active tourism is (however not the beach) permitted within the same province. Agricultural and fishing activities will restart their business. On the other hand, professional training centers will start operating again in different turns. Finally, it is compulsory to wear safety masks whenever using public transport.
The Government has imposed 14 days quarantine for any traveler coming to Spain, tourists or residents, starting on 15th of May until the end of the State of Alarm, which is predicted to end on the 24th of May. Travelers will stay at their accommodations and are only allowed to leave for basic necessities, like buying food, going to the pharmacy, going to the hospital or due to a force majeure situation. Airlines will provide to their passengers a health form to be completed and handed in at the airport arrival.
STAGE 2 (Intermediate stage)
At this stage, the interior space of restaurants and bars will be opened allowing 30% of its total room and social distance barriers (screens) that may guarantee distance between clients will be settled. The table services are just for clients, most restaurants should have hygiene disinfected available at accessible places or entrances. If possible, no menus will be provided, instead it will either be told by the waiter or accessible through QR code. Regardless, if you’re seating in the interior or terrace of a restaurant, a waiter will allocate the costumer to their table to avoid overcrowding and guaranteeing security distance.
Cinemas, museums, theatres, exhibition and conference rooms will be opened just at a third part of their capacity with pre-arranged tickets. Shows carried out in closed spaces will be limited to a maximum of 50 people separated by a minimum of 2 meters distance. If shows are carried out on an open air space the limit will be 400 people (with the need to be seated). With regards to tourism, nature active tourism for bigger groups will be allowed still with limited capacity, as well as, visiting monuments, but not activities (organized activities or routes).
STAGE 3 (Advanced stage)
This will be the last stage until we get into the new normal. One of the most important aspects is that mobility will stop being so restrictive. Capacity limit will be 50% in shops, whereas in restaurants occupancy levels will be eased, however, in both cases maintaining strict separation distance between people. Active and nature tourism is allowed, as well as, enjoying the beach.
Please see below, an overview with the current stage the cities and provinces in Spain are living in, as follows:
Stage 0: Madrid, Toledo, Barcelona, Girona, Malaga, Comunidad Valenciana.
Stage 1: Andalucia (Seville, Cordoba, Cadiz, Huelva), Catalonia (Tarragona and Lleida), Castilla la Mancha, Castilla Leon, Balearics, Canary Islands, Basque Country, Aragon, Cantabria, Extremadura, Galicia, Navarra, Murcia, Ceuta y Melilla.
Abreu Events Spain is working on a risk management procedure, with safety measures enforced to our suppliers which will include transportation, entertainment, guides, restaurants and venues, in order to comply with all necessary safety measure procedures for our operations.