Official State Gazette publishes Order establishing more flexible measures for territorial units in Phase 2 as part of Plan for Transition to New Normality

These measures relate to social aspects, retail trade and the provision of services, bars and restaurants, science and innovation, cultural establishments and facilities, sport, recreational swimming pools, and active tourism and nature, among other areas. This Order of the Ministry of Health will come into force on Monday, 18 May.

Social measures

The public may travel around the province, island or territorial unit of reference in groups of up to 15 people, not including those who live together, provided that they maintain social distance and personal protective measures. People up to the age of 70 may engage in non-professional physical activity at any time of the day exception between 10 am and 12 pm, and between 7 pm and 8 pm, which are reserved for those over the age of 70.

The regional governments and autonomous cities may agree that these time slots in their territorial jurisdiction begin up to two hours earlier and end up to two hours later, provided that they do not increase the total duration of these times.

Funeral wakes may be held in all types of public or private facilities, with a maximum limit of 25 people in the open air and of 15 people in closed spaces, whether or not they live together. Burials and cremations are restricted to a maximum of 25 people, between families and friends.

The maximum capacity at places of worship rises from one third to 50%. Marriages and other religious celebrations may be held in all kinds of facilities, with a maximum capacity of 50% and without exceeding 100 people in the open air and 50 people in closed spaces.

Recreational swimming pools and beaches

Recreational swimming pools may open to the public without a prior appointment, with a maximum capacity of 30% or such capacity as allows the personal safety distance to be respected. Furthermore, this may be organised in shifts. Cleaning must be performed at least three times a day and neither the changing room showers nor other water sources may be used.

Bathers on the beach must use the area responsibly, following the recommendations and rules established by the health authorities. The practice of sporting activities, whether professional or recreational, is permitted provided they can be undertaken individually and without physical contact.

Trade

Retail trade establishments and premises may reopen to the public regardless of their surface area for displays and sales, provided that the maximum capacity is reduced to 40% on each floor making up the premises and guaranteeing a minimum of two metres' distance between customers.

In those premises where it is not possible to maintain this distance, only one customer may enter the premises and there must be a period of opening hours with a priority service offered to those over the age of 65. Systems may be established to collect goods from the establishment, on a staggered basis, to avoiding crowding inside the store and access thereto, and a system for preferential home deliveries may be arranged for certain groups.

In the case of markets, the number of usual posts will be limited to one third to guarantee that the social distance of two metres is maintained. Shopping centres and trade parks may open with a maximum capacity of 30% in common areas and of 40% in each of the commercial establishments.

Customers may only use the common areas except to move between stores. Recreational areas and children's play areas, leisure areas and rest areas must remain closed.

Bars, restaurants and hotels

Bars and restaurants may re-open to the public to eat and drink inside the premises, except for discotheques and nightclubs, provided the maximum capacity of 40% is respected.

Clients may only consume on the premises when seated at a table or group of tables, preferably with a prior booking. It will not be possible for clients to use self-service facilities at the bar.

Service in open air terraces is maintained under the same conditions as the Order on their application in Phase 1, and the minimum distance of 2 metres must be respected at all times.

The Order also provides for the re-opening to the public of common areas in hotels and tourist accommodation, provided that this does exceed one third of their capacity. Entertainment activities and group classes will have a maximum capacity of 20 people, and must avoid the exchange of objects, preferably to be held in the open air and respecting the minimum safety distance between all participants. Should this not be the case, then face masks must be worn. Furthermore, the corresponding disinfection of objects and material used will be maintained.

As regards active tourism and nature activities, they may be undertaken in groups of up to 20 people.

Visits to care homes for the elderly

Regional governments and autonomous cities may authorise visits to be made to residents of protected housing, care homes for persons with disabilities and care homes for elderly in the territories under their jurisdiction.

In the case of care homes for the elderly, these visits will preferably be carried out in exceptional circumstances, such as at the end of the patient's life or to ease the neurocognitive decompensation of the resident.

These visits may not be made at centres in which confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been detected, or where any resident is in quarantine.

Culture

Consultations may be made in library rooms provided that this does not exceed one third of their authorised capacity and computers may be used by library-goers. However, children's rooms and free access collections will remain closed.

Exhibition rooms, monuments and cultural spaces may be opened provided that this does not exceed one third of their authorised capacity and measures are adopted to control crowding.

All cinemas, theatres, auditoriums and similar spaces may resume their activity, provided that they have pre-authorised seats and do not exceed one third of their authorised capacity.

The provision of complementary services is permitted, such as stores, cafeterias and similar facilities. No cloakroom or storage service may be provided.

Professional sport

Athletes that are members of clubs that participate in non-professional leagues may take part in basic training, individually and in compliance with the corresponding prevention and hygiene measures, at the club training centre or other types of facilities that are open to the public.

Professional sports clubs and sports societies may hold group training sessions provided they comply with the corresponding prevention and hygiene measures with up to a maximum of 14 people.

Training will be held in different shifts, whenever possible, avoiding exceeding 50% of the capacity of the installations for athletes. The media may not attend.

Professional league competitions will resume behind closed doors without spectators, provided that the health situation allows this. The media may attend to broadcast the competition.

Covered sports facilities may re-open. Sporting activity will require a prior appointment, be organised into shifts and respect the limit on the maximum capacity of 30%. Changing rooms may be used.

Congresses, meetings and business/scientific conferences

Congresses, events, business meetings and conferences may be held in congress halls, conference halls, multipurpose rooms and other similar establishments and facilities without exceeding a capacity of 50 attendees, and maintaining the minimum safety distance of 2 metres and without safety equipment. Those who can attend remotely will be encouraged to do so rather than attending in person.

Residencies, buildings, centres and installations, whether public or private, the purpose of which is to provide accommodation and bar and restaurant services to scientific, technical and research personnel, my resume their activities, guaranteeing the cleaning and disinfecting services provided for in the Order.

Phase 0 and Phase 1

The Order also contains amendments to previous orders in order to make certain restrictions more flexible in those territorial units that are still in Phase 0 or Phase 1. For those territorial units that are still in Phase 0, conditions are established to open certain stores, services and archives to the public, as well as for the practice of professional and club sport under the same conditions as in Phase 1.

Accordingly, in Phase 1 (and Phase 0), stores and similar services may open with a surface area for displays and sales less than or equal to 400 square metres. In establishments with a larger surface area, this space may be reduced to re-open to the public with a similar floor area.

Commercial and promotional activities must be accompanied by measures designed to ensure that crowds do not form that prevent the personal safety distance from being respected, and in compliance with the limits on capacity.

Furthermore, in Phase 1, sports hunting and fishing are permitted, provided that the personal safety distance and hygiene and prevention measures are respected.

Non official translation