ARCHIVED - Murcia government intends to maintain perimetral closure until over-60s are vaccinated
The Murcia president says the lifting of restrictions should depend on vaccination rather than on a date in the calendar
Fernando López Miras, the president of the regional government in Murcia, stated on Tuesday that when the national state of pandemic emergency expires at midnight on Saturday 9th May his intention is to place the health of those living in the Region first and foremost, and to avoid any decisions which might increase the risk of the coronavirus incidence rate increasing again.
Sr López Miras was referring specifically to his government’s preference for maintaining a ban on unnecessary travel into and out of the Region, despite uncertainty over the legality of such a policy if it is not implemented under the umbrella of a national state of emergency. But the president is adamant that the lifting of pandemic restrictions cannot be decided by a date on the calendar, and should be determined instead by the progress of the immunization campaign.
He went on to add that in his view the closure of the regional boundary should remain in force until the vast majority of those in their 60s have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccines: the latest national Ministry of Health update reports that so far in Murcia over 85 per cent of those in their 70s are at least partially protected against infection, but the proportion falls to 54 per cent for those aged between 60 and 69.
Fernando López Miras believes that an acceptable level of vaccination – i.e. close to 100 per cent - will be achieved in this age group within the next 2 or 3 weeks: if that is the case, it could mean the bar on inter-regional travel remaining in place until towards the end of May.
Meanwhile, any over-70s in the municipality of Cartagena who have not yet received an appointment for their first jab are invited to present themselves at the pavilion in Cabezo Beaza between 9.00 and 14.00, taking with them their ID card and SMS health service card.