MADRID – We still receive a lot of questions about the corona measures from readers who, despite the negative travel advice in the Netherlands and Belgium, are going to travel to Spain, are currently staying there or are living in Spain. A standard answer cannot be given here because the rules are often different in each autonomous region and we sometimes no longer know what, where, how and when applies. Below we explain a few things.
Just some background information. Spain is a decentralized country consisting of a central government / government and in addition 17 autonomous / regional governments such as in Catalonia, the Valencia region, the Balearic Islands, Murcia, Andalusia in the Canary Islands and Madrid.
The central government in Madrid has taken several corona measures that apply everywhere and made recommendations for all of Spain. But every autonomous government may and can take its own corona measures since the end of the state of emergency (March 14 to June 21), depending on the corona situation prevailing there.
The decentralization in Spain therefore means that, although some standard rules apply throughout Spain, there are many more regional rules that can therefore be different everywhere. This includes, for example, how many people are allowed to meet, rules regarding the numbers of people on terraces or in bars and restaurants, but also the shops, schools, etc.
That all sounds very illogical and confusing, but you have to take into account that Spain is a large country with, so to speak, 17 different cultures and customs and a different number of inhabitants per region.
The situation with regard to the coronavirus is also by no means the same everywhere in Spain, because there are many cases of infection in the large cities, but in the quiet areas and in the interior there are few or none at all.
Unfortunately, the Dutch and Belgian authorities have not taken this into account in their travel advice and have wrongly given the same color (orange or red) throughout Spain. This makes traveling to Spain more difficult, but not impossible.
Corona measures
As mentioned before, many corona measures apply per autonomous region and are therefore not the same everywhere. There are a few exceptions to this, such as the general nationally applicable rules listed below.
Mouth caps
Wearing a face mask or face mask (mascarilla) is mandatory throughout Spain in public indoor and outdoor areas, even if it is possible to keep 1.5 meters away. In addition, this is also mandatory in public transport and if you are in a car with people outside the household.
The obligation to wear a mouth mask does not apply to children under 6 years of age and is also not necessary during sports (although this is now being discussed), when eating and drinking on a terrace (but only while eating / drinking , so the rest of the time is) or in a bar / restaurant and when you have a demonstrable medical indication.
PLEASE NOTE because the police may issue fines of 100 euros or more if someone does not wear a mouth mask. Those fines and the masking obligation apply to everyone, so for the residents of Spain and for foreigners who are visiting / on holiday in Spain.
The Spanish Ministry of Health recommends hygienic and surgical face masks (mascarillas higiénicas / quirúrgicas) that cover both the nose and mouth. But any type of mask can be used as long as it covers the nose and mouth. In other words, non-medical masks made of, for example, textile can also be used. Dental masks are for sale everywhere in Spain, including hygienic and surgical masks.
Keep distance
It is mandatory to keep a distance of 1.5 to 2 meters if possible, which is also recommended for children from 6 years old. The distance also applies during sports, in the public indoor and outdoor areas, during work, at family gatherings, etc.
Since it is known in Spain that the meter and a half cannot always be guaranteed, practically all of Spain (which gradually went on for each autonomous region) has already introduced a masking obligation in July that always applies, even if one and a half meter distance can be guaranteed.
Bars and restaurants have rules about five feet away, just like in other countries. These also apply to shops, cinemas, receptions, hotels, at swimming pools, on the beach, etc.
In practice, however, it often (but not always) comes down to the fact that, due to the duty of masking, people adhere less to the 1.5 meter rule and often unconsciously or consciously come too close to each other.
Smoking ban
The masking obligation was gradually adopted by autonomous region, with the Madrid region and the Canary Islands being the last regions where a masking obligation was introduced. The same also applies to the smoking ban when the 2 meter distance cannot be used.
Smoking in public / public indoor spaces was already prohibited by law, but now smoking is also not allowed in public / public outdoor spaces such as on terraces, parks or on the street when the 2 meters distance cannot be maintained. Here too, the police can issue fines if someone smokes anyway.
Group formation
The rules surrounding group formation are different in the autonomous regions. In general, the national rule of a maximum of 10 people applies, but in Catalonia, Andalusia, the Madrid region and various other regions, a maximum of 6 people applies.
And further
Furthermore, one has the general corona measures that apply everywhere such as often disinfect and wash hands with soap, do not touch or hug other persons, do not shake hands, sneeze and cough in the inside of the elbow and contact or have them contacted directly. authorities when you think you have corona symptoms.
At campsites, in hotels, in bars, restaurants and terraces, on the beach, in shops, etc., measures have been taken that you must comply with when you are in Spain. Many of the corona measures taken correspond with those taken in the Netherlands and / or Belgium, but some deviate.
With regard to the opening hours of the catering industry, these differ per autonomous region, but we can generally speak of 1:00 a.m., often with new customers no longer allowed from midnight. That late hour has of course to do with the fact that the inhabitants of Spain often eat late and life often goes on a little longer.
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