ARCHIVED - Andalusia maintains almost all restrictions in attempt to avoid fourth wave of Covid-19
The Andalusian regional government has reported that although the third wave has stabilised, it is far from over and restrictions must remain in place for the time being.
Residents of Andalusia who were hoping to see coronavirus restrictions eased have been disappointed as the so-called committee of experts that advises the regional government on how to handle the health situation has decided the majority of the current measures imposed must remain in place for the moment.
The news came on Wednesday evening (3 March), following the announcement that a meeting of the interterritorial health authorities’ meeting had failed to reach an agreement on what to do about Easter at a nationwide level.
With this in mind, and seeing as the coronavirus incidence rate in Andalusia has plateaued and hospital pressure remains high, the authorities have wished to err on the side of caution and keep a tight hold on the reins.
The 10 pm to 6 am curfew remains in place, as do all provincial and regional perimeter closures. At a municipal level, the current system remains whereby perimeter closures are applied to towns and villages with an incidence rate of more than 500 cases per 100,000 residents and non-essential businesses must close in those with more than 1,000 cases per 100,000 residents. This does not apply to places with fewer than 1,500 residents, though, which will be evaluated and restrictions determined by a regional risk assessment committee.
Social gatherings, however, may increase from 4 to 6 people who don’t live together, but only in homes and outdoors, 4 is still the limit for groups inside bars and restaurants.
The main change is that shops, bars and restaurants in areas with a ‘level 2’ risk rating will be allowed to open until 9.30 pm rather than 6 pm, and alcohol will be allowed to be sold until the same time. Universities in level 2 areas will also be allowed to resume classes on campus.
Decisions on risk levels will be made today (Thursday 4 March), with the above changes coming into force tomorrow.
Levels, the regional government explained, are determined by taking six factors into account: 14-day accumulated incidence rate, the accumulated incidence rate in over-60s, test-diagnosed active Covid-19 cases, traceability rates and ICU bed and hospital occupation levels. Levels will be revised once a week.
Although disappointing for those hoping for more freedom, the news came as little surprise as regional government representatives had been warning for some time that changes to restrictions would be minor. Although the situation has stabilised, the number of new cases of coronavirus in Andalusia remains high, at a similar level to that of the first wave of Covid-19 a year ago. The highly contagious ‘British’ variant currently accounts for 60 per cent of all cases in the region, and the authorities are wary of its potential to spread fast if measures are relaxed too soon.
Although plans have been approved for mass vaccinations, just 2.7 per cent of the region’s population has received both doses of vaccine so far as nowhere near enough supplies are arriving. The Spanish government hopes the situation will improve in April, as they expect deliveries to increase.