On Saturday, March 14th, The Ministry Council adopted a decree which declares the state of emergency on the entire territory of Spain.
The measures apply starting March 14th, for 15 days. This term can be extended by another 15 days with the approval of the Chamber of Deputies.
The adopted measures include the limitation of free circulation and increase authority of 4 Ministries: Health, Transport, Defence and Internal Affairs. They could make decisions adapted to the situation without fulfilling an administrative procedure.
The disposed measures:
– The circulation is forbidden, with the following exceptions: grocery and medicine shopping, going to work, to the bank or health care facilities, attending to another person (who’s either incapacitated, vulnerable, old or disabled), in case of emergency, returning to the residence or “any other similar activity that can be justified.”
– The circulation of personal vehicles on public roads is permitted only for carrying out one of the activities mentioned above and for filling up the gas tank from gas stations.
– The terrestrial and railway public transportation services (cercanias) will run at 100% capacity, while the medium distance ones will run at 50% capacity.
– The activity in all educational establishments is suspended, and only where possible will be switched to distance learning.
– All stores will be closed except for: grocery stores, pharmaceutical stores, health care stores, pet stores, barber shops and hair dressers.
– The activity of cultural and leisure establishments will be suspended: museums, theatres and cinemas.
– Hosteleria and coffee shops, restaurants and public food establishments servicies will be suspended, exclusively authorised to offer home-delivery services instead. Are suspended also services offered by cafeterías, bares, café, chocolaterías, heladerías, salones de té, croissanteries, salones de banquetes, terrazas.
– Museums, discotheques, auditoriums, sports facilities, attraction parks, leisure activity centres, processions, popular fiestas, all closed or cancelled.
– All public and private health care facilities will function under the Ministry of Health’s authority and follow its decisions.
– Religious and civil ceremonies will be permitted, on the condition of taking all the measures for avoiding crowds and the participants to have at least 1 meter distance between each other.
The new regulations also include the mobilization of armed forces with the primary objective of assuring the supply with core products (food and medication), as well as assuring the implementation of the new circulation regulations.
In accordance with the organic law which regulates the state of alarm, exception and martial law, the Government can also employ private businesses. This is relevant now in the context of medical care.
According to the same decree, the only competent authority for taking measures is the Government of Spain. The autonomous governments will only have operating attributions.
The decree was published in Boletín Oficial del Estado number 67 from March 14th, 2020.
The adopted measures do NOT include the close down of Madrid.
Other measures applicable on the entire Spain territory
– RENFE, the Spanish railways, offer the option to change, cancel or refund the tickets’ value of those affected by the Coronavirus situation. The phone number for more information is: 918 314 520 and it’s available starting Monday, 16th of March. More information here.
– All stores from the CONSUM chain store will be open from 10:00 to 20:00. According to CONSUM regulations, each person will have the right to buy up to 6 pieces of the same product.
– Flights between Spain and Italy, Spain and Morocco are cancelled.
Measures disposed by the Valencian Community
– The EMT public transportation company decided that passenger access will only be made through the middle door and cash will NOT be accepted as payment for tickets.
– All festivities taking place with the occasion of Semana Santa were cancelled.
– Jávea, Cullera and Gandia authorities decided to close the beaches. Petacona and Port Saplaya beaches from Valencia have also been closed.
* Later, this measure was extended to all beaches from the Mediterranean Coast of Spain.
On Saturday, March 14th, 20:00, the situation was the following:
In Spain:
– 6315 people infected, 193 deceased.
In the Valencian Community:
– 188 people infected, 3 deceased.
*The photo in this article is a screenshot from the live show on TV1.