Spanish Government - Coronavirus Travel Restrictions

[Carl]

As probably expected the Spanish Government under a Royal Decree have now announced restrictions on movement in Spain.

All Spaniards (I assume they mean everyone in Spain) with be confined to their properties with the exception of:

• Purchasing of food, pharmaceuticals and basic necessities

• Providing assistance and care for the elderly, minors, dependents, people with disabilities or especially vulnerable people

• Accessing health centres and hospitals

Private vehicle movements on roads is only permitted for the reasons above, or for refuelling at petrol stations.

Public transport operators will reduce the total supply of operations by at least 50% in public transport services for road, rail, air and sea passengers that are not subject to public contracts or public service obligations. This cut could be extended to 60% if deemed necessary.

These restrictions will be effective from 08:00 on Monday.

[Karen Jones]

Thank you for this information. Can I ask where this came from. Spanish news?

[Carl]

Thank you for this information. Can I ask where this came from. Spanish news?

It was taken from the Spanish media who had published the information in advance of the Prime Minister addressing the country.

[Carl]

Herewith The Olive Press' view of the restrictions:-

https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news ... ervention/

The only caveat I would add is that under the 'Businesses' heading in the article they have said that 'hairdressers, launderettes, dry cleaners and opticians' are allowed to open. I have not seen this detailed anywhere else and to me these do not seem like vital services that need to remain open during this 15 day lockdown.

[reddragon]

Hairdressers in particular not vital I would say and no mention of dentists anywhere?

[Carl]

Hairdressers in particular not vital I would say and no mention of dentists anywhere?

As you say no mention about dentists, but here is some more information (taken from The Guardian newspaper online) on the reasoning why hairdressers are an exception:

Sources with the Spanish government said the decision to allow hairdressers to remain open was made for hygiene reasons, so as to guarantee services for people with mobility issues who may need help washing their hair.

A workers’ union representing hairdressers in the southern Spanish city of Cordoba launched a Change.org petition on Sunday calling for hairdressers to be shuttered during the lockdown.

“It doesn’t make sense to expose this sector, which has so much contact with the public, to the virus,” reads the petition. Less than a day after its launch, it had racked up more than 70,000 signatures.

Two other associations representing hairdressers said they had advised their members to close during the lockdown in order to avoid any risk of spreading the virus.

[Carl]

Just a quick update that I have seen on RTVE. The Government has now reversed its decision regarding hairdressers and they must now close their salons from today onwards, but hairdressers must maintain home visits where necessary to guarantee the care and hygiene of the most vulnerable.

[Carl]

Guardia Civil have sent out at tweet this morning accompanied by the following image:

Guardia Civil Tweet.JPG (48.13 KiB) Viewed 2336 times

It was to remind people that only individual displacements are allowed in accordance with the Royal Decree declaring the State of Emergency, except when accompanying people with disabilities or for just cause.