Talk Quesada forum

Looks like we may be heading back to restrictions to cover the December Bridge (6 and 8th) and the Christmas period.
The Interterritorial Health Commission is meeting tomorrow to discussed today at a meeting called "Coordiated Response Actions for the Control of Covid-19). It's already been stated that the Valencian Government wants to introduce the covid passport to enter events, parties and so on for this period and are awaiting the results of the legal ruling by the Supreme Court (Basque Region supreme court has already rejected the proposal by the Basque government).

For the first time, the health authorities are no longer saying that the situation in Spain is favourable and are worrying that the number of cases are on the rise although deaths and ICU admittances are still low.

The restrictions and measures to be discussed today will include:
Back to teleworking where possible. Where this is not possible, the use of facemasks and ventilation in work places to be mandatory along with social distancing of 1.5m.

Bars and restaurants to close at 2300 again and nightclubs to close at 0100.
The booster vaccine to be offered to all over the age of 60.
Mask wearing, no smoking on terraces, restricted numbers at indoor tables, eating and drinking in public and other restrictions will be maintained.

Note that these restrictions would be nationwide and the use of the covid passport will be at the discretion of the region authorities.

They will also reclassify areas as to the number of cases per 100,000 and place areas on different levels of alert according to that. They will give classifications of Alert 1 to 4 with 1 at about what is happening now but areas in Alert 4 will see closure of many indoor places including bars and restaurants, cinemas, sporting venues and so on. At Alert 4 only home delivery or collection will be allowed.

Please note these are only items to be discussed and the outcome of the meeting will be published later.

Marcliff , can I please repost this?

Please remember that these are just proposals at the moment. The introduction of a "traffic light" system is being discussed.

The requirements for the covid passport in the Valencia Region will be announced on Thursday.

The traffic light system proposes that up to 100 cases per 100,000 is low risk, 100 to 200 is medium risk, 200 to 300 is high risk and over 300 is extreme risk.

In the low risk, capacity will remain as it is if masks can be used, cinemas and other closed spaces where food and drink is served will be 50% capacity, bars will be 80% of capacity indoors, distance between tables 1.5m and you can be served sitting at the bar if the distance is kept. Nightclubs will be a maximum of 70% and dancing and singing allowed wearing a mask.

In the medium risk, 50% capacity in restaurants, maximum of 10 per table but 1.5m between tables and bars and restaurants to close at 2300 with nightclubs to close at 0100. Nightclubs will also be reduced to 50% capacity and singing and dancing allowed with masks.

In case anyone wonders why these restrictions are being discussed, the Valencia Region had 7 deaths in the whole week just 2 weeks ago with cases at below 100 and hospitalisations and ICU getting lower.

Today, the region reports 15 deaths, 599 cases and 36 more hospitalisations.
Cumulative cases have gone from low risk at less than 50 per hundred thousand a month ago to 113 per 100,000 now which was high risk in the previous system but medium risk if these new measures are brought in. Benidorm is at extreme risk with 457 per 100,000, Benijofar at high risk with 242 per 100,000 and San Miguel de Salinas at high risk with 190 per 100,000.

In the high risk, maximum 50% in cinemas and indoor venues and no food or drink allowed. Restaurants with 25% capacity and maximum 6 per table. No bar consumption and closing at 2300. Nightclubs will be closed.

In the extreme risk areas, all indoor facilities closed such as gyms, theatres, driving schools. Bars and restaurants will be closed with only takeaway or home delivery allowed. All non professional sports suspended.

At the moment, the Valencia region and Alicante province are in the new medium risk.

But, again, remember these are only discussion points and the results of the interterritorial meeting will be published later.

Yes I realise only proposals

The Health Minister has announced that the meeting to discuss the way ahead is over and the traffic light system has been approved but without restrictions.

The levels will be as per the previous posts but, at the moment, no further restrictions regarding opening hours etc will be brought in.

It has also been agreed that those aged 60 to 69 will be given the booster vaccination and the regions will announce when this will start.

Due to the importance of the vaccination programme and the excellent results shown in Spain, daily reports will now show the incidence in the vaccinated population as well as the unvaccinated. The main rise in cases are in the unvaccinated population at the moment. Those between 60 and 80 show a risk of infection of 8 times less in the vaccinated whilst the unvaccinated have an 18 times greater risk of hospitalisation and 25 times greater chance of dying.

The implementation of restrictions will be looked at again after the December bridge.

Sorry, but what is. the December Bridge? I have never heard of it before.

I'd say it was the bridge between our Christmas 25th Dec and The Three Kings 6th Jan.

David Stokes wrote:Sorry, but what is. the December Bridge? I have never heard of it before.

David Stokes wrote:Sorry, but what is. the December Bridge? I have never heard of it before.

There are two red days 6 and 8 Dec. Some places choose to close on the middle day, hence why it’s called the December Bridge.
So it’s the period between 6-8 December

If you hear the word puente, that it what is meant. Applies to any periods in a year where 2 red days apart in a week is taken as a long period by taking holidays from work to make a longer period of vacation. Day or working days on which, because they are between two holidays, also become holidays.

Well, you learn something new everyday it's just a case of remembering now.