The Consell has requested that the entire Valencian Community pass, next Monday, to phase 1 of de-escalation.
The Generalitat has now asked the Government to move the entire Valencian Community to phase 1 of the de-escalation on Monday, May 11th , as long as all the required parameters have been met , according to sources from the Consell.
Last Sunday Ximo Puig assured, after the conference that he had “the conviction” that the Community was going to be “in a position” to pass to phase on the 11th . He said that six out of ten diagnosed have already been cured and only three out of ten cases are still active while the number of people admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is at “its lowest level” since March 22nd.
He also argued that the cumulative incidence in the last two weeks is 16 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, “less than a third of the Spanish average” , and that “only five of the 17 autonomous communities have a lower rate than the of the Valencian Community”. He stressed that the mortality rate is also lower than the Spanish average.
On Tuesday, the Minister of Health Ana Barceló, also assured that the region is “ready” and has enough human and material resources to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Health.
Specifically, the department, led by Salvador Illa, requires that PCR tests be carried out within 24 hours after patients present symptoms, as well as having between 1.5 and 2 beds in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and between 37 and 40 beds of acute patients for every 10,000 inhabitants to cope with a hypothetical outbreak of coronavirus.
PHASE ONE – YET TO BE PASSED
Phase 1. This will begin on May 11 for provinces that meet the requirements, and will allow for social activities such as meetings in the home or on the street for up to 10 people. Sidewalk cafés can also reopen, albeit at 50% of their usual capacity. The government had proposed 30% but representatives from the sector complained given the effect this would have on their revenues. Hotels and tourist accommodation can also reopen for guests living in the same province, but common areas will be shut. Places of worship will reopen, while activity will also restart in the food and fishing sectors. Open-air markets will be limited to 25% of their usual capacity, while religious celebrations will be limited to 30%.
Phase 2. This will begin on May 25 in the provinces that meet the requirements, and will see restaurants return to serving at tables inside their establishments once more, albeit with limited capacity. Journeys to second residences will be allowed, provided they are in the same province. Cinemas and theaters will reopen with a third of their capacity. Cultural activities will be permitted with fewer than 50 people seated, while open-air events will be able to hold fewer than 400 people seated. Schools will reopen to offer support to parents of children aged under six who cannot work from home, as well as for those students preparing their university entrance exams.
Phase 3. This will begin on June 8 in areas that meet the requisites, and will see a reduction of capacity restrictions in hostelry, but the public will have to remain separated. Restrictions on mobility in general will be relaxed, and retail outlets will be able to allow customers to enter up to 50% of usual capacity. Nightclubs and bars will be able to open with a maximum of a third of their usual capacity. Citizens will be able to go to beaches provided they observe safety and distancing conditions.
The markers for each change of phase will depend on:
- The strategic capacity of Spain’s health system, including primary care, the situation in hospitals and the number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds available.
- The epidemiological situation, including testing, the infection rate and other indicators.
- The collective compliance with protection measures in the workplace, businesses and public transport.
- The evaluation of mobility and socioeconomic data.
