As the Deputy PM for the Junta, Juan Marín, announced following a Health Committe meeting, we're staying on the same phase for the next two weeks.
According to the Junta’s original de-escalation plan, we should have passed onto Phase Two but instead it’s two weeks more of Phase One. This means that the majority of restrictions contained will also remain in force.
The only change is that bar/restaurant terraces can now remain open until 01.00h, although no new customers can be admitted after 23.59h (midnight).
The Minister of Health, Jesús Aguirre, explained that this was because of the late-evening, Andalusian summer customs when it comes to going out to eat in the evenings.
The Andalusian Health Committee took into account the increase in the number of cases within the age group of 18 to 30 in the last 14 days, as well as a greater ratio of the Delta Variant.
On the other hand, Minister Aguirre says that the vaccination roll out has delivered eight million doses so far. Bear in mind that the entire population of Andalucía is around seven million, making it the region of Spain with the largest population. Furthermore, the pressure on hospitals continues to descend although slower than before.
The next meeting of the Health Committee will be in two weeks’ time.
For those of you who don’t recall how the winding down on restrictions was supposed to play out, it was designed to take place in three phases – this had been announced on the 6th of May.
Phase One/Stabilisation: from the 9th to the 31st of May. Unfortunately, we’re still in this phase and will continue to be for the next fortnight, into the second half of July.
Phase Two/Advance: having already been set back, it was to begin yesterday and would continue onto the 21st of July.
Phase Three/Normalisation: was originally going to start on the 21st of June – now we’re looking at the second half of August.
So, here we remain in Phase One, which means that there is a maximum of eight to a table (interiors) and ten on outside terraces, depending on the Level of each individual municipality.
Night bars and discos can stay open until two in the morning. Only outside dance floors can be used for that purpose.
Distancing of 1.5 metres on beaches and public swimming pool (unless in the water). One seat empty between each spectator in theatres, cinemas, bull rings etc.
Well, that’s enough to be getting on with but basically, the only differences are that you don’t have to wear a mask in public unless you can’t keep a safety distance and restaurants etc don’t have to close until 01.00h instead of 12.00h.
(News: Andalucia)