Valencia announces end of main pandemic restrictions from this Tuesday – and masks indoors remain
The president of the Generalitat has declared that a “new era” begins in which “vaccine, mask and common sense” will be the great defences.
Monday 21st February 2022 – Mike Smith
Translated from a press release published by GVA
The president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Ximo Puig, has announced the end of the main existing health restrictions in the Comunidad Valenciana from tomorrow Tuesday 22nd February.
Puig broke the news after a meeting of the Interdepartmental Table for Prevention and Action against COVID-19, in which the removal of the main current restrictions has been agreed, except for the use of the mask indoors and when it is not possible to maintain the minimum safety distance and the prohibition of smoking on terraces, which also remains in force.
The president confirmed that the COVID passport will no longer be required, except when visiting elderly residences and social centres in order to protect the most vulnerable population. In addition, the limit of ten people per table and the required separation of 1½ metres between the tables in bars and restaurants will also be lifted.
Regarding the requirement to have a COVID passport to access residences and social centers, the president has indicated that he will request the Superior Court of Justice of the Comunidad Valenciana (TSJCV) for authorization to maintain the measure from February 28th, the date until which had been authorized.
During his speech, in which he was accompanied by the regional public health secretary, Isaura Navarro, Ximo Puig pointed out that after 700 days since the start of the pandemic, “a new era begins” in which “vaccine, mask and common sense” will be the three “great defences” in which to face it. Likewise, he has assured that special vigilance will be maintained on persistent COVID and its effects on mental health.
The president has insisted that the pandemic “is not over”, for which he has pointed out the need to maintain prudence in a new cycle of “post-pandemic reactivation”. In this sense, he has referred to the beginning of a fiesta calendar in a “practical normality framework” that will favour “emotional recovery”.
He stressed that, throughout the pandemic, the Generalitat Valenciana has adapted the measures approved to the needs of each moment, to fulfill the commitment “not to maintain the restrictions beyond what is necessary”. For this reason, and given the “favourable” evolution of the pandemic, and the “substantial” progress in vaccination, the president has justified the removal of the restrictive measures.
Regarding vaccination, Puig said that the implementation of the COVID passport has led to the immunization of 91,000 people who were previously unvaccinated. In addition, he highlighted that the vaccination campaign in the Comunidad Valenciana is above the Spanish average in all age groups, and almost 10 points above in pediatric vaccination, adding that 96.6% of people over 60 years of age and 94.5% of those over 70 have already had the booster dose.
Finally, he has shown his gratitude for the help provided during the last two years, by all the companies, self-employed people and workers as well as for the “enormous effort” made by the 65,894 health professionals of the Comunidad Valenciana and for the “union and responsibility” of the entire Valencian society.
