The government of Spain has approved a state of alarm with a curfew extended to May 9.
Spain has already faced a second state of alarm. After the initial application in mid-March 2020 and several extensions approved by the Congress of Deputies that required a long quarantine, a new state of alarm followed.
This was announced by Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister, on Sunday, October 25, who outlined the core points of a proposal valid through May 9. The Boletín Oficial del Estado published on Sunday, October 25, regulates the measures described by the Prime Minister. A summary of the proposed rules is available in the official publication. — Goal
Curfew: how it is applied
The government approves its application to all of Spain, with the exception of the Canary Islands, and usually sets the curfew between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sánchez clarified that the autonomous communities will regulate the exact time frame. This means the window could be moved earlier, for example to 10 p.m. in Castilla y León, or later, such as 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. or 7 a.m. — Goal
EXCEPTIONS: During the 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. period, people may enter roads or public spaces only to perform the following activities:
- a) Purchase medicines, health products and other essential goods.
- b) Go to health centers, services and institutions.
- c) Visit veterinary care centers for urgent reasons.
- d) Carry out employment, professional, business, institutional or legal obligations.
- e) Return to the usual place of residence after performing any of the activities listed above.
- f) Provide care for the elderly, minors, dependents, people with disabilities or those who are particularly vulnerable.
- g) Situations of force majeure or emergency.
- h) Any other similar accredited activity.
- i) Refueling at gas stations if necessary to carry out the activities mentioned previously.
Sánchez explained that meetings are limited to six people unless they live together, and he encouraged minimizing outings as much as possible. — Goal
Restriction of movement between communities
He stated that authorities in each autonomous community can decide to restrict entry and exit from their territory or from lower territorial levels. There will be exceptions for health reasons or the fulfillment of work obligations.
The entry and exit of people from the territory of any autonomous community and any city with a statute of autonomy are restricted, except for justified movements under the following conditions:
EXCEPTIONS:
- a) Assistance to health centers, services and institutions.
- b) Fulfillment of employment, professional, business, institutional or legal obligations.
- c) Access to universities, education and training centers, including pre-primary schools.
- d) Return to habitual residence or family home.
- e) Assistance and care for the elderly, minors, dependents, people with disabilities or particularly vulnerable individuals.
- f) Travel to financial and insurance institutions or service stations in adjacent areas.
- g) Actions before public, judicial or notarial authorities that are required or urgent.
- h) Renewals of permits and official documentation, or other administrative procedures that cannot be postponed.
- i) Examinations or official tests that cannot be postponed.
- j) Force majeure or emergency.
- k) Any other similarly accredited activity.
Additionally, the delegated competent authority may, in some cases, restrict entry and exit in territorial areas of a smaller administrative level than the autonomous community. Transit traffic through these territorial areas is not subject to restrictions. — Goal
Until when will it be applied
The Prime Minister stated that the government aims to apply the state of alert until May 9 if Congress approves it. The plan calls for cross-party consensus to review the regulation every 15 days, under the provisions of the Constitution, with a note that the situation could be adjusted if conditions improve.
At the moment, and until Congress approves, the state of alarm declared by this Royal Decree had ended at 00:00 on November 9, 2020, with provisions for extensions if needed. — Goal
Four alarm levels
Sánchez described four risk levels defined for each territorial unit, creating a traffic-light style system. The first indicator is the number of detected cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the prior 14 days. — Goal
Source: Goal