Valencia extends additional measures until February 15 to control the pandemic in the region

The Generalitat de Valenciana has decided to extend – with some modifications – the additional measures issued in the Comunidad Valenciana to protect the health of its citizens. This extension, together with the modifications, will come into effect next Monday 1st February and will last until February 15th. The resolution will be published this Saturday, January 30th, in the Official Gazette of the Generalitat Valenciana (DOGV).

The restriction on gatherings at home to only those who live together, in the street to two people, and the perimeter confinement during the weekends of cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants is maintained. In addition, the mandatory wearing of a face mask is extended to urban beaches and while doing sports within populated areas, whether it is on public roads or if the physical activity is done in a green area.

The measures will be in force until 23:59 on Monday 15th February and introduce some modifications with respect to the previous ones. One of the additions affects the use of the mask, which, as stated, is mandatory for people over six years of age “during the practice of physical activity or any other activity within populated area” as well as “in natural spaces or outdoors within populated areas, beaches and swimming pools “. Therefore, on urban beaches, you can walk or do physical activity while maintaining social distance, without exceeding the maximum number of two people (except cohabitants) and always with a face mask on. In natural spaces or beaches located outside urban centres, a face mask is recommended, but not mandatory.

Regarding the closure at 18:00 of stores and commercial areas that sell products or articles, it is detailed which ones can remain open beyond that time and what they can sell: food products, beverages, hygienic products, pharmaceutical, health, optical establishments, orthopedic products, hairdressing services and pet food.

In addition, saunas, spas, solariums, Turkish baths, spas, massage parlors and similar establishments are closed.

Apart from these changes, the previous measures are maintained that establish that, in spaces for public use, both closed and outdoors, no more than two people can gather, unless in the case of those who live together and without prejudice to the exceptions provided.

In addition, in homes and spaces for private use, both indoors and outdoors, it is maintained that only family and social gatherings of people belonging to the same nucleus or coexistence group are allowed, with the same exceptions as in the previous case.

The exceptions to these two limitations are non-professional activities related to upbringing and care, such as care of minors, elderly people, those in a situation of dependency, with impaired mobility or in a situation of special vulnerability, coexistence children alternating between their parents who do not live together, and the foster care of minors in any of their types.

In addition, meetings of people with a marital or partner relationship who live in different addresses, or of people who live alone, who may be part of another single unit of coexistence – a “social bubble” – are also excepted, forming an extended bubble. However, each extended bubble may only contain a single person living alone, and the person living alone may be part exclusively of an extended bubble during the entire period of validity of the measure.

Also excluded from the limitations are meetings for the work activities, institutions, those of transport and those of the educational centres.

Restrictions on entering and leaving the Comunidad Valenciana are maintained, which continue to be restricted except for properly justified trips. It also remains in force from 15:00 on Friday to 06:00 on Monday, and from 15:00 on the eve of bank holidays until 06:00 the day after the bank holiday, the entry and exit of people from municipalities and groups of municipalities with a population of over 50,000 inhabitants (València, Alicante, Elche, Castelló de la Plana, Torrevieja, Torrent, Orihuela, Gandia, Paterna, Benidorm, Sagunto, Alcoy, Sant Vicent del Raspeig, Elda-Petrer, and Vila-real).

Likewise, the limitation to the freedom of movement of people at night between 22:00 and 06:00 throughout the territory of the Comunidad Valenciana is extended.

All these limitations are justified by the existence in the Comunidad Valenciana of a community transmission, uncontrolled, sustained and with increasing hospital pressure with an occupancy, on January 27, of 42.16% of acute care beds and 62.97% of ICU beds.