In this article we will attempt to clarify certain points which, frankly, are still not very clear, starting with this Saturday and over 65s.

It was initially planned that people over 65, as well as adults in general, could go out for a walk or jog, depending on what your undercarriage can handle. However, there are those within the Central Government that consider that this move should wait until Monday. Therefore, we shall have to wait until closer to the weekend for a definite decision from the Government. As today is only Wednesday, there’s no sense in searching for your walking stick or running shoes quite yet.

Bars and restaurants: On the 4th of May (Stage Zero) bars and restaurants can provide takeaway food as long as it has been preordered; i.e., customers order first, advised when it is ready, turn up without hanging around and return home with the goodies. At this state the inside dining area and outside terrace cannot be used.

When Stage One arrives on the 11th bars and restaurants can use their outside terraces but only up to 30% of its capacity. Inside dining is not permitted.

With Stage Two on the 23rd, outside terraces at 30% and inside as well at 30%.

With Stage Three on the 8th of June: 50% occupation inside and out.

When we get to Nueva Normalidad on the 23rd of June things should be operating close to as before but with social distancing etc.

All these date deadlines are flexible as it depends on each province reaching the specified contagion levels to be able to continue to the next stage. If contagion figures start to rise, the whole timetable will be set back.

Why by provinces: this has caused a few ruffled feathers amongst the Catalans and Basques, as well by just about every autonomous region governed by the opposition. They feel that they have been bypassed. However, it is illogical to open up the country all at once; yes you can confine everybody on the same date, but you can’t let them out on the same date as the virus doesn’t understand regional boundaries.

The entity that has the contagion figures at their fingertips are the regional governments. The Central Government depends on them to supply the figures, so even though it is on a provincial scale, it is the regions that are really controlling the data. The Central Government cannot directly control the provinces around the country. So each regional government will provide the Central Government with the health figures for each province but it is the Ministry of Health belonging to the Central Government who will make the decision for a province to progress to the next stage, basing its decisions on the regional governments’ figures.

So, in the case of Granada, we have one of the worse contagion figures within Andalucía so our province will progress more slowly than Jaén or Córdoba, for example. Málaga can stop sniggering because it’s nearly as bad as Granada.

The question is, concerning bars, restaurants and hotels, will the money that they take operating only at 30% capacity justify reopening under those conditions?

A quick word on wearing masks: the use of masks has been and will continue to be only recommended – it is not obligatory. Why? because masks will not protect you from catching the virus but they will prevent you, to a great extent, infecting somebody else. If you are infected, you shouldn’t be out in the first place. There are those that are asymptomatic and are unknowingly infecting others, hence masks are strongly recommended for everybody. It’s your call.

Anyway, Dear Readers, if you have any questions that we have not covered here, please leave your question below in the comments box.

(News: Spain)