2022: The Year in Review – January
January saw a new year of recovery begin. Fiestas made a slow return to the cultural calendar whilst the town promoted its Balenciaga season.
Thursday 29th December 2022 · Mike Smith
Source: Original
January
The COVID-19 pandemic was still a large part of our lives as cases increased again due to a new variant called Omicron and more than 300 million cases had been recorded worldwide. Tennis star Novak Djokovic was deported from Australia over his vaccination status; Spain’s Rafa Nadal went on to win the Australian Open.
In Spain, a number of regions recorded their highest covid infection rates since the start of the pandemic. Alongside infections, the death rate of people who have previously tested positive for the coronavirus had also risen to a figure last seen in September 2021.
In the UK, Prince Andrew’s military affiliations and royal patronages, which includes the use of “His Royal Highness”, was returned to the Queen whilst The Daily Telegraph reported that two parties were held at Downing Street the night before Prince Philip’s funeral, at a time when Covid restrictions banned indoor mixing. Xàbia was forced to cancel its traditional New Year midday bells and we all had to carry a valid vaccination certificate to access bars and restaurants. By the end of the month, the number of vaccinations administered worldwide exceeded 10 billion. And, just weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine and unsettled the rest of the world, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States – issued a rare joint statement in which it affirmed that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.”
Xàbia in January
01: The year began in the traditional manner with the New Year’s Day Charity Swim organised by the Lancashire Bruja and which was returning after an enforced hiatus due to the pandemic. Although there were more observers than swimmers, the event would raise 2,700 euros which would be donated in equal parts to the Cruz Roja Jávea and Aspanion, the organization that helps families in the Comunidad Valenciana who have children with cancer.
Related Link: New Year’s Day Charity Swim raises 2.700 euros
Related Link: Plenty of bathers brave chilly waters on the first day of the year in Arenal
05: With the festive period coming to an end, the regional education ministry reported that schools would be re-opening after the break with 100% attendance expected after the chaos caused by the pandemic since the spring of 2020. Regional health secretary Ana Barcelo said that “the percentage of vaccination of [5-11 year olds] in the Comunidad Valenciana is higher than the national average“ as she also confirmed that teachers would receive a booster dose immediately.
Related Link: Schools will resume on Monday with 100% attendance at all levels
Related Link: Vaccination of 5-8 year olds will begin this Thursday in Comunidad Valenciana
05: Normality was returning to the world as the Three Kings arrived in Xàbia by fishing boat and paraded through the port and town, accompanied by their entourage, musicians, dancers and pages. Although the usual receptions were not possible due to the ongoing health situation, some of the children were surprised by ladders being placed against their balconies and presents delivered by pages.
Related Link: The Kings fill the streets of Xàbia with magic
10: Firefighters, supported by airborne assistance, fought a blaze that had broken out on the slopes of the Montgó in a section close to the Ermita del Popúl and the Barranc del Migdía.
Related Link: Firefighters battle flames on the slopes of the Montgó
Related Link: Firefighters consider Montgó fire to be extinguished
Related Link: Montgó residents grateful for the work of emergency teams during last fire
12: CD Jávea confirmed Lauro Techeira as the new coach of the first team, replacing Manuel Esteban who was dismissed after a run of seven straight defeats. After a shaky start, the side would claim their first home win of the season since September at the end of the month.
Related Link: CD Jávea parts company with head coach Manuel Esteban
Related Link: Lauro Techeira is the new coach of CD Jávea
Related Link: Six casualties for Techeira’s first game in charge of CD Jávea
Related Link: CD Jávea gain first point since November in bad-tempered derby stalemate
Related Link: CD Jávea lose five goal thriller at Muro CF
Related Link: CD Jávea claim first home win since September
12: With a certain degree of optimism, the Department of Fiestas prepared for the return of the celebrations of Sant Antoni Abad and San Sebastián during the month of January. However, the health situation dampened hopes of a partial return to normality and forced organisers to adapt the programme of events for their respective celebrations.
Related Link: The fiesta year starts cautiously with Sant Antoni and San Sebastian celebrations
Related Link: Sant Antoni 2022: A burning pine and animal blessing marks return of fiesta to Xàbia
14: Xàbia closed the year 2021 with 1,488 unemployed, 140 less than in November 2021, according to the State Public Employment Service (SEPE). It was not a bad figure when compared with the trend that had been occurring in the previous months in which the decline had slowed down.
Related Link: Xàbia closes 2021 with unemployment levels similar to 2019
19: Xàbia representatives travelled to Madrid to participate in the FITUR 2022 International Tourism Fair. Mayor José Chulvi, and councilor Antonio Miragall (Tourism) presented some of the town’s tourism offers, one of which is the celebration of “El Año Balenciaga en Xàbia” during 2022.
Related Link: FITUR 2022: Xàbia promotes ‘El Año Balenciaga’ at tourism trade fair in Madrid
Related Link: José Chulvi: “El Año Balenciaga will deepen the fashion designer’s relationship with Xàbia”
Related Link: Xàbia produces video to promote «2022. Año Balenciaga en Xàbia»
22: The Policía Local de Xàbia presented its review of services carried out in 2021. The number amounts to 9,083 actions, 909 more than in 2020. Of the total, 2,263 were in response to requests for assistance channeled through 112.
Related Link: Xàbia Local Police performed more than 9,000 services last year
Related Link: Local police to monitor for poor parking overnight in the urban areas
Related Link: Local police aims to acquire an unmarked vehicle
26: Calle Santo Domingo has characteristics very similar to Carrer Nou, a narrow 135m dead straight street on which cars have parking right up against the façades of the houses, alternating sides on a regular basis. After the success of Carrer Nou, the council decided that the time was right for the street to bid farewell to vehicles in favour of pedestrians.
Related Link: Calle Santo Domingo will be for pedestrians only from February
26: Xàbia Council confirmed that the new contract for rubbish collection and the cleaning of streets, public areas and beaches in the town as well as management of the EcoParque, which was finally awarded to Valencian company TETMA SA at the end of last May, would come into force at 00:00 hours of Friday 28th January.
Related Link: Xàbia’s new rubbish collection and street cleaning contract starts this week
Related Link: First Look: TETMA deploys new rubbish collection trucks
Related Link: Kika Mata: “New electrical machinery for street cleaning service will come into service in days”
27: The president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Ximo Puig, announced that a request has been lodged with the courts to seek authorization to extend until the end of February the requirement to show a COVID certificate to access the interior spaces of hotels and restaurants as well as cinemas, gyms and sports centres. It would be authorised two days later.
Related Link: Puig requests court authorization to extend COVID certificate requirement
Related Link: Supreme Court authorizes extension of ‘COVID passport’ requirement until end of February
28: The January plenary meeting of Xàbia Council concluded with the proposal for the 2022 municipal budget passed with the support of the government team (PSPV and CPJ), despite votes against from the PP and the abstention of Compromís and Ciudadanos.
Related Link: The opposition in Xàbia shows its cards as council prepares to discuss 2022 budget
Related Link: Budget 2022: PP votes against the budget proposal whilst Compromís and Ciudadanos abstain
Related Link: PSPV and CPJ go forward with 2022 budget, the first in four years in Xàbia
javeamigos.com Review of the Year 2022
