Valencia announces first steps of progressive de-escalation

Thursday 25th February 2021 | MIKE SMITH

Ximo Puig, president of the Generalitat Valenciana, has announced details of what he has called a “cautious and prudent” de-escalation of the restrictions as the region successfully bends the infection curve of the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic and the cumulative rate drops below the national average to reach levels not recorded since last October.

The plan includes the progressive re-opening of bars and restaurants, starting with the terraces (the interior must remain closed) which will be allowed to open 75% of licensed capacity with a maximum of four people per table and remain open until 6.00pm. Masks must be worn at all times, except at the moment of eating and drinking.

Non-essential shops and businesses will be able to remain open until 8.00pm and the permitted capacity raised to 50%. In addition, outdoor sports activities can resume up to a maximum of 30% of licensed capacity of the facility being used. Public parks and gardens as well as places of worship will be able to open up to 50% of normal capacity.

In addition, the weekend perimeter closure of the major cities and towns across the Comunidad Valenciana will be lifted after this weekend, although the perimeter closure of the region as a whole will remain in place until March 15th and Puig confirmed that there is an agreement in place between the autonomous regions of Spain to restrict movement between them during the Easter holidays.

As for the night curfew, this will remain as it has been for the past few weeks until March 15th, operating from 10.00pm until 6.00am the following morning, whilst the limit on meetings of people in outdoor public spaces will increase to four people who don’t live together in the same household. Restrictions on meeting in homes continue as before.

The new relaxed measures will begin on Monday 1st March and will remain in place for 14 days. However, to anticipate the possibility of a fourth wave caused by the spread of the UK variant, the Generalitat has opted for caution and will evaluate the situation on a weekly basis to adjust the measures as necessary.

With regards to forthcoming fiestas, such as las Fallas, the president insisted that the region is not in a position to enjoy any celebrations at the moment and won’t be until there has been mass vaccination of the population.

With regards to the vaccination campaign, the president confirmed that a mass vaccination drive will take place from April by age group. By then, it is envisaged that vaccination of essential groups will have been completed and that those under the age of 55 will begin to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Information Source
Press Conference – Generalitat Valenciana