Lifting lockdown: What you can and can't do during Spain's Phase 1
The final provinces of Spain have at last been given permission to advance to Phase 1.
Madrid, Barcelona and the parts of Castilla y Leon that had been held back in the de-escaltation process have all been given the green light to advance to Phase 1 in Spain's "Plan to Transition to the New Normal".
LATEST: These are the provinces advancing to Phase 1 and Phase 2
Here's a guide to what you can and can't do during Phase 1, bearing in mind that restrictions are looser in those towns with a population fewer than 10,000 people.
READ MORE:
-
Spain loosens restrictions in towns with fewer than 10,000 residents
-
Lifting lockdown: What changes in Spain when your province advances to Phase 2
Meeting friends and family
During Phase One, social contact between people who live in the same municipality and who are not considered to be in a vulnerable or at risk group will be allowed to meet.
However the meetings will be restricted to ten people maximum and can occur either in a public place such as a terrace or in a private home or garden where social distancing measures must be met.
READ MORE: Q&A What are the rules for meeting friends during Spain's Phase 1?
Small businesses
During Phase Zero, business with premises under 400 metres were allowed to open by appointment only to deal with customers on a one to one basis, this was relaxed further for Madrid and Barcelona last week when they entered Phase 0.5 to allow up to a third of the usual number of clients to enter at any one time as long as they can guarantee social distancing and hygiene measures. The premises must be disinfected twice a day.
This will continue in Phase 1.
Establishments should set aside dedicated time slots specifically for elderly customers to avoid those more vulnerable to covid-19 from coming into contact with other groups.
Pavement cafes
Resaturants, bars and cafes will be allowed to open their terraces for customers as long as they keep to 50 percent of the usual capacity – that means allowing more space between tables and that groups are no bigger than 10 people. Tables must be disinfected between customers.
Hotels
Hotels, hostels and tourist accommodation will be allowed to open for overnight stays although they will have to keep communal areas such as dining rooms and gyms closed.
Places of worship
These will be allowed to open and hold services as long they reduce usual capacity to 30 percent.
Museums
Museums and exhibitions spaces will be allowed to open at a third of capacity ensuring hygiene and social distancing measures are observed and that crowds are avoided.
Cultural events
Those held inside are limited to under 30 people, seated and at the maximum of a third of the capacity of space.
While those outside can involve a maximum of 200 people as long as they too are seated.
Outdoor markets
These can reopen butwith 25 percent of the usual number of stands to allow them to be spaced far apart and the volume of visitors capped at 30 percent of the usual maximum capacity.
Funerals
During lockdown funeral services may be held with “a limited amount” of mourners. Wakes can be attended by up to 15 people if held outside, and providing social distancing is observed between those from different households, while up to ten people can gather if it is held indoors.
Burials are also limited to 15 people in attendance.
Second homes
If you have a second home within the same province then you are allowed to visit it but if it is outside your province then you are not.
Gyms and sporting facilities
Open air sports facilities will be opening during Phase 1 but only for those sports that don’t involve physical contact such as tennis or athletics.
Gyms will be open for training sessions by private appointment but changing rooms will not be in use.
Public swimming pools will not open in Phase 1.
Time slots
Spain currently has a timetable in place determining when different groups can take their exercise outside. This is to protect the must vulnerable groups in the population and to try and prevent overcrowding.
So adults can exercise outside between 6am and 10am and between 8pm and 11pm while those over 70 have the slots between 10am and noon and 7pm and 8pm. Children are allowed outside between noon and 7pm.
These will continue to be in place during Phase 1, although regional governments have been the authority to adapt the timetable to take into account the warmer weather so as to allow children to avoid taking an outing in the hottest part of the day.
Do I have to wear a mask?
Masks have been complusory on public transport since May 4th and from Thursday May 21st it was made compulsory for all those over the age of six to wear masks in public places and places open to the public where it is impossible to maintain the 2 metre distancing rule.
However there are exceptons for those who have respiratory, health or behaviourial problems that make the wearing of a mask impossible or if you are eating or drinking.
READ MORE: Face masks are now mandatory in Spain: What you need to know
Things you CANNOT do in Phase 1
You are not allowed to travel outside your province.
Cannot hold parties of over ten people
Cannot visit large shops or commercial centres with premises are over 400 metres
Check your local council website as to what parks, beaches and public spaces are open.
These rules are slightly different if you live within a municipality with a population below 10,000.
READ ALSO:
Comments
See Also
Madrid, Barcelona and the parts of Castilla y Leon that had been held back in the de-escaltation process have all been given the green light to advance to Phase 1 in Spain's "Plan to Transition to the New Normal".
LATEST: These are the provinces advancing to Phase 1 and Phase 2
Here's a guide to what you can and can't do during Phase 1, bearing in mind that restrictions are looser in those towns with a population fewer than 10,000 people.
READ MORE:
- Spain loosens restrictions in towns with fewer than 10,000 residents
- Lifting lockdown: What changes in Spain when your province advances to Phase 2
Meeting friends and family
During Phase One, social contact between people who live in the same municipality and who are not considered to be in a vulnerable or at risk group will be allowed to meet.
However the meetings will be restricted to ten people maximum and can occur either in a public place such as a terrace or in a private home or garden where social distancing measures must be met.
READ MORE: Q&A What are the rules for meeting friends during Spain's Phase 1?
Small businesses
During Phase Zero, business with premises under 400 metres were allowed to open by appointment only to deal with customers on a one to one basis, this was relaxed further for Madrid and Barcelona last week when they entered Phase 0.5 to allow up to a third of the usual number of clients to enter at any one time as long as they can guarantee social distancing and hygiene measures. The premises must be disinfected twice a day.
This will continue in Phase 1.
Establishments should set aside dedicated time slots specifically for elderly customers to avoid those more vulnerable to covid-19 from coming into contact with other groups.
Pavement cafes
Resaturants, bars and cafes will be allowed to open their terraces for customers as long as they keep to 50 percent of the usual capacity – that means allowing more space between tables and that groups are no bigger than 10 people. Tables must be disinfected between customers.
Hotels
Hotels, hostels and tourist accommodation will be allowed to open for overnight stays although they will have to keep communal areas such as dining rooms and gyms closed.
Places of worship
These will be allowed to open and hold services as long they reduce usual capacity to 30 percent.
Museums
Museums and exhibitions spaces will be allowed to open at a third of capacity ensuring hygiene and social distancing measures are observed and that crowds are avoided.
Cultural events
Those held inside are limited to under 30 people, seated and at the maximum of a third of the capacity of space.
While those outside can involve a maximum of 200 people as long as they too are seated.
Outdoor markets
These can reopen butwith 25 percent of the usual number of stands to allow them to be spaced far apart and the volume of visitors capped at 30 percent of the usual maximum capacity.
Funerals
During lockdown funeral services may be held with “a limited amount” of mourners. Wakes can be attended by up to 15 people if held outside, and providing social distancing is observed between those from different households, while up to ten people can gather if it is held indoors.
Burials are also limited to 15 people in attendance.
Second homes
If you have a second home within the same province then you are allowed to visit it but if it is outside your province then you are not.
Gyms and sporting facilities
Open air sports facilities will be opening during Phase 1 but only for those sports that don’t involve physical contact such as tennis or athletics.
Gyms will be open for training sessions by private appointment but changing rooms will not be in use.
Public swimming pools will not open in Phase 1.
Time slots
Spain currently has a timetable in place determining when different groups can take their exercise outside. This is to protect the must vulnerable groups in the population and to try and prevent overcrowding.
So adults can exercise outside between 6am and 10am and between 8pm and 11pm while those over 70 have the slots between 10am and noon and 7pm and 8pm. Children are allowed outside between noon and 7pm.
These will continue to be in place during Phase 1, although regional governments have been the authority to adapt the timetable to take into account the warmer weather so as to allow children to avoid taking an outing in the hottest part of the day.
Do I have to wear a mask?
Masks have been complusory on public transport since May 4th and from Thursday May 21st it was made compulsory for all those over the age of six to wear masks in public places and places open to the public where it is impossible to maintain the 2 metre distancing rule.
However there are exceptons for those who have respiratory, health or behaviourial problems that make the wearing of a mask impossible or if you are eating or drinking.
READ MORE: Face masks are now mandatory in Spain: What you need to know
Things you CANNOT do in Phase 1
You are not allowed to travel outside your province.
Cannot hold parties of over ten people
Cannot visit large shops or commercial centres with premises are over 400 metres
Check your local council website as to what parks, beaches and public spaces are open.
These rules are slightly different if you live within a municipality with a population below 10,000.
READ ALSO:
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.