Daily updates

NEVER SEEN ANYTHING A BOUT COUNTRYSIDE WALKING RESTRICTIONS

National parks and some walking trails were put out of bounds due to the heat wave and risk of fire.
Not a general ban, just the areas that had an extremely high risk.
It was in protected nature parks, mountain walking and camping spots.

"The measure affects both pedestrians and vehicles and is in place in the natural parks of: Serra d’Irta, Penyagolosa, Desert de les Palmes, Tinença de Benifassà, Serrà Espadà, Serra Calderona, Puebla de San Miguel, Túria, Hoces del Cabriel, Serra de Mariola, Font Roja and Prat de Cabanes.

In the remaining natural parks of the region normal measures corresponding with wildfire alert level three will be in place."

That was from August 12th "until further notice".

Vaccines for the 12 to 16 year olds was delayed a day and started in the Valencia Region today. The number fully vaccinated in the Valencia Region is now pushing 70% (68.9%) compared to Spain's overall double jabbed rate of 63.2%.

The Pres of the Valencia Region has stated that restrictions will definitely be eased on 6th September after the Fallas. The Fallas will take place but with restricted floats in the parade, everyone taking part will be antigen tested before they begin and every 48 hours. No spectators will be allowed to line the route of the parade. Any event as part of the Fallas (like fireworks) will take place in several areas to keep the crowds at a minimum and facemask wearing will be mandatory at all events.

The restrictions Sr Puig mentioned will apply to the gathering of more than 10 and the curfew but it has not been confirmed if the opening hours and social distancing rules will be relaxed.

Cumulative cases have dropped almost 130 points in the last week throughout Spain although the number of cases in the Valencia Region have dropped today to less than a thousand (765) and there have been 18 deaths in total over the last week. Spain's cumulative cases are almost 400 in 100,000 but are at 326 in Valencia but the cases amongst the younger age groups are over double that (12 to 19 is 783 per 100,000 and the 20 to 29 age group is 740).

Outbreaks caused by family or social gatherings now account for almost 90% of the total and 85% of those who are hospitalised or in ICU are those who have not had the full course of the vaccine or any at all.

According to the Valencia Health Authority, there are 80,000 people who do not have a mobile phone and haven't been able to be contacted via SMS. They are now calling on the health centres to contact these people by landline to attend for a vaccine.

Temperatures appear to be dropping (thank goodness) but the risk of fires is still high. One such forest fire in Pinoso cut down the visibility at Elche/Alicante airport today causing some delays in arrivals and departures.

Remember the clocks not changing anymore? Well, looks like that's on hold. The EU parliament voted to end this back in 2019. The European Commission (those bureaucrats in Brussels) passed the decision on to the European Council (the heads of state) to implement it but they bounced it back to the Commission to carry out a detailed study on the effects. Then along came Brexit which could mean the entire country of Ireland could have the bottom bit on one time zone and the top bit on another if UK doesn't do the same.

Of course, they could have a different time zone in all of Ireland but that might not please some of the Unionists in the North who could end up with a different time to UK.
Then Sweden started humming and hahing as having longer evenings but shorter mornings could affect sleep patterns. The 3 time zones in the countries in the EU could end up with longer gaps between them if some countries opt to stay on winter times and others on summer times.

Of course, Covid also came along and tying up the EU parliament, Commission and Council on something like this took a bit of a back seat.

Looks like it may not happen again this year and we'll still have to try and remember which one we forgot to change.

Spain, in general, has now come out of extreme risk as accumulated cases drop below 250 per 100,000. The Valencia Region has seen an even bigger drop to below 200 (197) per 100,000.

The current restrictions in place regarding meetings, curfews, hostelry opening times etc is due to be reviewed this weekend before they expire at midnight on 6th September. The President of the Region has indicated that most restrictions could be dropped but he health minister has said this may not be the case and we would have to see what the incidence is like at the end of the week.

EU has now put brought back extra restrictions on the USA and Israel due to the rising number of cases and restrictions will be placed on those coming and going from those countries although the EU has said it will be up to individual countries to set their own rules on visitors.

Spain will reach 70% of the entire population doubled vaccinated on Wednesday this week. It has already achieved 76.6% of all those over the age of 12 and the Valencia Region has 78% of all those over 12 with the full course of the vaccine.

Pretty bad floods up in the north of the region. Castellon had a huge waterspout which flooded streets in several of the towns and Valencia had hailstones and winds up to 84kph. Seems to have missed us, though, although we still remember September a couple of years ago with the extreme Gota Fria and floods we had. Good news is that that is not forecast but just the small possibility of some rain on Wednesday but weather remaining hot and sunny through to the middle of September.

Inflation has reared its ugly head in Spain with the CPI rising to 3.3%, mainly due to rising fuel and electricity prices, which is the highest level in 10 years. Electricity in particular being the highest ever (anyone dreading their electric bill this month?)

Spain has succeeded in airlifting the majority of Afghans working for Spain as interpreters and assisting the military and civil service. They have been relocated to areas around Spain such as Peniscola and one centre where they have airlifted 800 to has only shown 1 incidence of Covid. Everyone was subjected to antigen test, vaccinated if necessary and will remain in quarantine for the next 10 days. Spain says almost 2,000 have been relocated and are still in talks to allow a number, believed to be about 200, to leave before tomorrow's deadline.

Very informative, thank you.

On the electricity front, special plans are available to help mitigate the increase. I have an 8 hour plan with Iberdrola which allows me to choose the hours I want at a cheaper rate. Well worth investigating.

Further to yesterday "Spain, in general, has now come out of extreme risk as accumulated cases drop below 250 per 100,000. The Valencia Region has seen an even bigger drop to below 200 (197) per 100,000."
Figures today show that the Alicante Province cases have risen back to "extreme risk" with 264 per 100,000 now recorded.

I’ve just read on a Benidorm site that the curfew in that area has been lifted and bars are no longer required to shut at 12.30! Marcliff, is this true?

No, it's a guess. The interdepartmental meeting takes place today and the Pres of the Valencian Region will announce the lowering of restrictions later this afternoon.

It is "assumed" that the curfews will be lifted and the restrictions on opening hours for bars and restaurants will be modified but until Sr Puig makes his announcement then it is just speculation.

In this sense, it is expected that the toughest restrictions , such as the night curfew and the limitation to ten people in meetings , will be eliminated . There is no evidence that the Generalitat has requested authorization from the Superior Court of Justice (TSJCV) to extend them, so everything indicates that both measures -which affect fundamental rights- will be lifted.

Thank you Marcliff, I was dubious when I read it as I know you always post when announcements are made and things are changed.

The interdepartmental meeting takes place at 12:30 today and Sr Puig will announce the results when that is finished.