Lifting lockdown Phase 0.5: What you can and can’t do in Madrid and Barcelona from Monday
This week much of Spain will be enjoying new freedoms as their provinces or ‘health districts’ advance to Phase 1 allowing longed for meetings with friends and relatives and once again being able to enjoy the simple pleasure of enjoying a coffee, or a beer on a sunlit terrace.
But 14 million residents across a significant part of the country, including Spain’s two largest cities Madrid and Barcelona, and parts of Castilla y Leon, will remain in Phase 0 for another week.
Or rather Phase 0.5 as it is being called because a few restrictions have been lifted from last week.
The map above shows the status of each province (or health zone) with the darker shade Phase 0 (or Phase 0.5). Photo: Moncloa
Here’s what you can and can’t do under the updated rules for Phase 0.5.
Time slots
Those living within Phase 0.5 must still observe the time table with allocated hours depending on your age and vulnerability.
Adults can walk outside between 6am and 10 am or between 8pm and 11pm
Those considered more vulnerable or who have to go outside with a carer, will be able to take a walk between 10 and 12 am and between 7pm and 8pm.
The over 70s are also encouraged to use this time slot to take their walk.
While children will be allowed outside between 12 and 7pm.
If however you live in a municipality with less than 5,000 inhabitants then the time slots don’t apply because authorities deem there is less risk of overcrowding.
Ya podemos salir a hacer deporte y pasear:
▶Mayores de 14 años:
De 6 a 10 h y de 20 a 23 h
▶Personas dependientes y mayores de 70 años:
De 10 a 12 h y de 19 a 20 h
▶Niños:
De 12 a 19 h
Sé RESPONSABLE y respeta las indicaciones.#EsteVirusLoParamosUnidos
Dentro vídeo? pic.twitter.com/v41F2qR2Bg
— La Moncloa (@desdelamoncloa) May 1, 2020
READ ALSO: Spain outlines new rules and time slots for leaving the house from May 2nd
Children going outside
Photo: AFP
Since April 26th children under-14 have been allowed to leave the house. Time slots were introduced from May 2nd when the adult population was also released from lockdown to take daily exercise.
This means that children can go outside between the hours of midday and 7pm, they can be outside for a maximum of one hour and must be accompanied by an adult who lives in the same home as them.
Up to three children can be accompanied by one adult and only one adult, that is family groups involving more than one adult are not allowed to go out together even if they live in the same house.
There are rules on what children are allowed to do, which include riding a bike, scooter or playing ball within the group that they live with. They are not allowed to go into playgrounds or interact with other children from outside their household.
According to an FAQ document published by Moncloa, adults can take their own period of exercise during the adult time slot and then again go outside when accompanying their children.
UPDATE: What you need to know about Spain's new rules for taking children outside during lockdown
Walking the dog
Photo: AFP
Dog owners have been allowed to walk their pets alone, on short walks near their homes since the start of the lockdown on March 14th in order to allow their animals to perform physiological needs at whatever time they need to.
That hasn’t changed but now they are being encouraged to walk their dogs during the allotted time period for their age group when they take their own hour of exercise and are now allowed to do so in the company of either another adult from within their own household during the adult hours or with children during 12-7pm time slot.
Exercise outside
Photo: AFP
Adults are allowed outside to take a walk or exercise between 6am-10am or between 8pm-11pm once a day.
There is no time limit for how long you can be outside but you should remain within a one kilometre radius from where you live unless you are exercising. (And that includes walking!).
Two adults from the same household are allowed to take walks together.
If exercising (jogging, cycling, rollerblading or walking for the purposes of physical exercise) you are not limited to a 1km radius but must not leave your municipality.
Only those sporting activities that can be carried out individually are allowed at this stage. So walking, jogging, cycling, are all acceptable. Having a kick around with friends with playing a game of tennis are not.
Physical activity ‘must be carried out in a continuous manner avoiding unnecessary stops on roads or in areas of public use’, according to the BOEand any stops that must be made must be kept as short as possible.
READ ALSO: How to calculate how far you can walk under Spain's new lockdown measures
Parks, countryside, beaches
The guidelines state that you are allowed to go wherever is open to the public in your own municipality. In Madrid, some municipal parks have been opened while others remain closed. While in Barcelona all the parks have been opened and beaches can be used for walking or sports, although not sunbathing or picnics.
Check your local council notices.
So if it is within one km walking distance and it’s open, then you can go. Or if cycling or running and it’s within your municipality then it is allowed.
In a document produced by the government of FAQs it does state that you are not allowed to drive somewhere in order to start your exercise.
Going to the shops/pharmacy
The original rules regarding legitimate reasons for leaving the house – to shop at the supermarket or buy supplies from the pharmacy – are still in place, which means you are not required to carry out those chores within your designated time slots.
But people are encouraged to combine their visit outside the home for exercise purposes with other trips. And most importantly to avoid going outside during those hours not reserved for you. This means less crowds during those times when the elderly and more vulnerable are venturing out of their homes.
Visiting small businesses
Photo: AFP
The FAQs state that you should only visit those small business allowed to open during Phase 0 that are located within 1km of your home. However if you need to visit somewhere that doesn’t have a local branch near to you then it’s allowed as long as it is within your municipality.
Small businesses are allowed to open if they occupy premises less than 400metres, and under the new Phase 0.5 rules they no longer have to be by prior appointment but the number of clients/customers inside the shop will be limited while social distancing and hygiene measures must be observed.
Those that are allowed to open include hairdressers and bookshops but premises in commerical shopping centres are not yet allowed to open.
Lottery shops, ITV test centres and Garden Centres
These will now be allowed to open from Monday under the new Phase 0 although of course social distancing and hygiene measures must be observed. But appointments must be made in advance.
Museums and Libraries
These are also now allowed to open although to restrict the number of visitors to a third of the usual capacity. Visits must be carried out alone or with one other person from the same household. Borrowing services will be resumed at libraries, as long as extra hygiene measures are in place.
Places of Worship
Churchs, mosques and other religious centres will be allowed to open in Phase 0 from May 18th as long as maximum occupancy is reduced by a third and people maintain social distancing measures which means keeping two metres apart from one another.
Funerals and Wakes
The rules have been updated to allow gatherings of up to ten people for wakes held inside and up to 15 people if in the open air as long as social distancing measures are applied.
Driving
The rules for being on the road have been updated. Until now private cars have been limited to just the driver except for special circumstances but from Monday May 4th, those private vehicles with up to nine seats can seat two people in each row to ensure maximum space between them.
READ MORE: How Spain's rules about car travel during lockdown have changed
Taking public transport
Photo: AFP
During phase zero it has been made compulsory to wear masks when travelling on buses, metros and trains and reduced occupancy limits are in place to try and ensure social distancing is possible.
READ MORE: Spain makes masks mandatory on all public transport
Meeting friends and family
Until your province enters Phase 1 you will not be allowed to visit friends or family and even then you will be only be able to do so in groups of a maximum of 10 people and only I f they too live within your province.
Travel beyond your province will not be allowed until a later stage if both your province and the one you want to go to are in the same phase and may not be possible until we reach the “new normal” after transitioning through phase 1-3.
READ ALSO: Q&A: When will we be able to meet friends and family in Spain?
International Travel
Photo: AFP
Spanish authorities haven’t yet indicated when it might be possible to open the borders again and only those who are either Spanish citizens or have residency in Spain are being allowed to enter. From May 15th a complusory 14-day quarantine is required for all arrivals.
READ MORE:
-
Spain extends international travel ban until June 15th
-
What you need to know about Spain's new quarantine rules for travellers
Travel to other provinces
Currently you are only allowed to move within your own municipality (unless you have valid reason such as work) but from Phase 1, you should be able to move around within the province.
Visits outside the province would not permitted until the final phase to avoid spreading the virus between zones.
“Imagine that one province is in Phase 1 and another in Phase 3,” Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said when announcing the plan. “Mobility cannot be permitted in order to go and meet with a relative or friend.”
Movement between provinces would return “when we reach the phase of the new normality,” he added.
READ ALSO Q&A: When can I travel to my second home in Spain?
Things you are still not allowed to do
You are not allowed to meet friends or family members or anyone outside your own household during Phase Zero, but this will be allowed in groups of up to ten people once your province advances to Phase 1 - which could be as soon as May 11th for some.
You cannot leave your municipality unless for essential work purposes or because of valid circumstances such as helping a vulnerable relative.
Visit your second home. Second homes are still off bounds until Phase 1 and then only if they are located within the same province.
Have a street party. You may have formed new friendships with neighbours through the nightly 8pm applause, held sing-songs from your balconies and even shared group exercise classes, but now is not the time to be strengthening those bonds with face to face meetings even if you attempt keep two metres apart.
Thousands of fines were issued on Saturday in Madrid alone after impromptu street parties formed with the euphoria of loosening lockdown combined with the annual Dos de Mayo public holiday.
Stay safe and use your common sense.
READ MORE: Police issue 35,000 fines as Spain embraces 'freedom' after 48 days of lockdown
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But 14 million residents across a significant part of the country, including Spain’s two largest cities Madrid and Barcelona, and parts of Castilla y Leon, will remain in Phase 0 for another week.
Or rather Phase 0.5 as it is being called because a few restrictions have been lifted from last week.
The map above shows the status of each province (or health zone) with the darker shade Phase 0 (or Phase 0.5). Photo: Moncloa
Here’s what you can and can’t do under the updated rules for Phase 0.5.
Time slots
Those living within Phase 0.5 must still observe the time table with allocated hours depending on your age and vulnerability.
Adults can walk outside between 6am and 10 am or between 8pm and 11pm
Those considered more vulnerable or who have to go outside with a carer, will be able to take a walk between 10 and 12 am and between 7pm and 8pm.
The over 70s are also encouraged to use this time slot to take their walk.
While children will be allowed outside between 12 and 7pm.
If however you live in a municipality with less than 5,000 inhabitants then the time slots don’t apply because authorities deem there is less risk of overcrowding.
Ya podemos salir a hacer deporte y pasear:
— La Moncloa (@desdelamoncloa) May 1, 2020
▶Mayores de 14 años:
De 6 a 10 h y de 20 a 23 h
▶Personas dependientes y mayores de 70 años:
De 10 a 12 h y de 19 a 20 h
▶Niños:
De 12 a 19 h
Sé RESPONSABLE y respeta las indicaciones.#EsteVirusLoParamosUnidos
Dentro vídeo? pic.twitter.com/v41F2qR2Bg
READ ALSO: Spain outlines new rules and time slots for leaving the house from May 2nd
Children going outside
Photo: AFP
Since April 26th children under-14 have been allowed to leave the house. Time slots were introduced from May 2nd when the adult population was also released from lockdown to take daily exercise.
This means that children can go outside between the hours of midday and 7pm, they can be outside for a maximum of one hour and must be accompanied by an adult who lives in the same home as them.
Up to three children can be accompanied by one adult and only one adult, that is family groups involving more than one adult are not allowed to go out together even if they live in the same house.
There are rules on what children are allowed to do, which include riding a bike, scooter or playing ball within the group that they live with. They are not allowed to go into playgrounds or interact with other children from outside their household.
According to an FAQ document published by Moncloa, adults can take their own period of exercise during the adult time slot and then again go outside when accompanying their children.
UPDATE: What you need to know about Spain's new rules for taking children outside during lockdown
Walking the dog
Photo: AFP
Dog owners have been allowed to walk their pets alone, on short walks near their homes since the start of the lockdown on March 14th in order to allow their animals to perform physiological needs at whatever time they need to.
That hasn’t changed but now they are being encouraged to walk their dogs during the allotted time period for their age group when they take their own hour of exercise and are now allowed to do so in the company of either another adult from within their own household during the adult hours or with children during 12-7pm time slot.
Exercise outside
Photo: AFP
Adults are allowed outside to take a walk or exercise between 6am-10am or between 8pm-11pm once a day.
There is no time limit for how long you can be outside but you should remain within a one kilometre radius from where you live unless you are exercising. (And that includes walking!).
Two adults from the same household are allowed to take walks together.
If exercising (jogging, cycling, rollerblading or walking for the purposes of physical exercise) you are not limited to a 1km radius but must not leave your municipality.
Only those sporting activities that can be carried out individually are allowed at this stage. So walking, jogging, cycling, are all acceptable. Having a kick around with friends with playing a game of tennis are not.
Physical activity ‘must be carried out in a continuous manner avoiding unnecessary stops on roads or in areas of public use’, according to the BOEand any stops that must be made must be kept as short as possible.
READ ALSO: How to calculate how far you can walk under Spain's new lockdown measures
Parks, countryside, beaches
The guidelines state that you are allowed to go wherever is open to the public in your own municipality. In Madrid, some municipal parks have been opened while others remain closed. While in Barcelona all the parks have been opened and beaches can be used for walking or sports, although not sunbathing or picnics.
Check your local council notices.
So if it is within one km walking distance and it’s open, then you can go. Or if cycling or running and it’s within your municipality then it is allowed.
In a document produced by the government of FAQs it does state that you are not allowed to drive somewhere in order to start your exercise.
Going to the shops/pharmacy
The original rules regarding legitimate reasons for leaving the house – to shop at the supermarket or buy supplies from the pharmacy – are still in place, which means you are not required to carry out those chores within your designated time slots.
But people are encouraged to combine their visit outside the home for exercise purposes with other trips. And most importantly to avoid going outside during those hours not reserved for you. This means less crowds during those times when the elderly and more vulnerable are venturing out of their homes.
Visiting small businesses
Photo: AFP
The FAQs state that you should only visit those small business allowed to open during Phase 0 that are located within 1km of your home. However if you need to visit somewhere that doesn’t have a local branch near to you then it’s allowed as long as it is within your municipality.
Small businesses are allowed to open if they occupy premises less than 400metres, and under the new Phase 0.5 rules they no longer have to be by prior appointment but the number of clients/customers inside the shop will be limited while social distancing and hygiene measures must be observed.
Those that are allowed to open include hairdressers and bookshops but premises in commerical shopping centres are not yet allowed to open.
Lottery shops, ITV test centres and Garden Centres
These will now be allowed to open from Monday under the new Phase 0 although of course social distancing and hygiene measures must be observed. But appointments must be made in advance.
Museums and Libraries
These are also now allowed to open although to restrict the number of visitors to a third of the usual capacity. Visits must be carried out alone or with one other person from the same household. Borrowing services will be resumed at libraries, as long as extra hygiene measures are in place.
Places of Worship
Churchs, mosques and other religious centres will be allowed to open in Phase 0 from May 18th as long as maximum occupancy is reduced by a third and people maintain social distancing measures which means keeping two metres apart from one another.
Funerals and Wakes
The rules have been updated to allow gatherings of up to ten people for wakes held inside and up to 15 people if in the open air as long as social distancing measures are applied.
Driving
The rules for being on the road have been updated. Until now private cars have been limited to just the driver except for special circumstances but from Monday May 4th, those private vehicles with up to nine seats can seat two people in each row to ensure maximum space between them.
READ MORE: How Spain's rules about car travel during lockdown have changed
Taking public transport
Photo: AFP
During phase zero it has been made compulsory to wear masks when travelling on buses, metros and trains and reduced occupancy limits are in place to try and ensure social distancing is possible.
READ MORE: Spain makes masks mandatory on all public transport
Meeting friends and family
Until your province enters Phase 1 you will not be allowed to visit friends or family and even then you will be only be able to do so in groups of a maximum of 10 people and only I f they too live within your province.
Travel beyond your province will not be allowed until a later stage if both your province and the one you want to go to are in the same phase and may not be possible until we reach the “new normal” after transitioning through phase 1-3.
READ ALSO: Q&A: When will we be able to meet friends and family in Spain?
International Travel
Photo: AFP
Spanish authorities haven’t yet indicated when it might be possible to open the borders again and only those who are either Spanish citizens or have residency in Spain are being allowed to enter. From May 15th a complusory 14-day quarantine is required for all arrivals.
READ MORE:
- Spain extends international travel ban until June 15th
- What you need to know about Spain's new quarantine rules for travellers
Travel to other provinces
Currently you are only allowed to move within your own municipality (unless you have valid reason such as work) but from Phase 1, you should be able to move around within the province.
Visits outside the province would not permitted until the final phase to avoid spreading the virus between zones.
“Imagine that one province is in Phase 1 and another in Phase 3,” Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said when announcing the plan. “Mobility cannot be permitted in order to go and meet with a relative or friend.”
Movement between provinces would return “when we reach the phase of the new normality,” he added.
READ ALSO Q&A: When can I travel to my second home in Spain?
Things you are still not allowed to do
You are not allowed to meet friends or family members or anyone outside your own household during Phase Zero, but this will be allowed in groups of up to ten people once your province advances to Phase 1 - which could be as soon as May 11th for some.
You cannot leave your municipality unless for essential work purposes or because of valid circumstances such as helping a vulnerable relative.
Visit your second home. Second homes are still off bounds until Phase 1 and then only if they are located within the same province.
Have a street party. You may have formed new friendships with neighbours through the nightly 8pm applause, held sing-songs from your balconies and even shared group exercise classes, but now is not the time to be strengthening those bonds with face to face meetings even if you attempt keep two metres apart.
Thousands of fines were issued on Saturday in Madrid alone after impromptu street parties formed with the euphoria of loosening lockdown combined with the annual Dos de Mayo public holiday.
Stay safe and use your common sense.
READ MORE: Police issue 35,000 fines as Spain embraces 'freedom' after 48 days of lockdown
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