Government proposes that Barcelona moves to Phase 1 next Monday

The Catalan Department of Health has proposed to the Spanish Ministry of Health that, from next Monday, May 25, Barcelona and the northern and southern metropolitan regions move to Phase 1 of the lockdown de-escalation plan.

The Government has also asked the Spanish executive to move the health regions of Tarragona (Camp de Tarragona), Ebre (Terres de l’Ebre) and the western Pyrenees (Alt Pirineu i Aran) to Phase 2 on the same day.

This Monday afternoon, health authorities sent the Spanish government their new proposal for loosening the lockdown, following meetings between the Catalan health minister Alba Vergés and the various mayors of the Barcelona metropolitan area.

The Catalan government has been coordinating directly with Barcelona city council with regard to the city moving on to Phase 1.

Activities allowed in Phase 1

During Phase 1, the outside seating areas of bars and restaurants are allowed to open at 50% capacity (modified from the original 30%). Local councils have the power to grant more space to terraces then normal.

No more than 10 people are able to sit at the same table in such terraces, and toilets of bars and restaurants have to be disinfected at least six times per day, according to the official Spanish gazette (BOE) setting out the rules for Phase 1 published on Saturday, May 9.

Self-service elements are not allowed in bars and restaurants, and menus are not recommended; signs or boards should be prioritized. 

Hotels and tourist accommodation can open during Phase 1 at their maximum capacity, that is, all of their rooms, but with hygiene and safety measures in place and with communal areas remaining closed.

People are able to leave their town and travel throughout the health region, but not go to another region (unless for health or work reasons). Traveling to second homes is allowed if it is in the same region, after Spain's president, Pedro Sánchez, contradicted the BOE soon after the detailed rules were published. 

Set time slots for exercise or going for a walk are still in force in municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabintants, due to increase to 10,000 in the coming days, as announced on Sunday.

Cultural shows and events can take place with audiences of less than 30 indoors (at 1/3 capacity) and 200 outdoors (maintaining a suitable distance between people).

Reading rooms in libraries can open in Phase 1, with limited capacity.

Social services offices are allowed to open.

This stage also allows for socializing in small groups of up to 10 people among healthy people with no underlying conditions.

Individual sporting activities by appointment in sports centers such as gyms is also permitted, as long as it does not involve physical contact or the use of changing rooms. Outdoor sports facilities can be used, but only for playing sports in which there is no contact (e.g. athletics, tennis). Recreational fishing and hunting is permitted.

Under Phase 1, the limitation of traveling by private vehicle is two people per row, except for people who live under the same roof, who could travel together with no limit.

This phase also allows two people traveling by motorbike together without masks if they live together. If they don't, they can still travel together, but with the obligatory use of masks or full-face helmets. 

As for taxis and VTC services, sitting in the front passenger seat is still not allowed, and as for the rest of the seats, they can be full if occupants live under the same roof; otherwise, it's two per row.

Schools and universities can open for administrative tasks, with congresses and scientific seminars of up to 30 people allowed - students are not able to return to classrooms.

Companies must allow working from home. Where this is not possible, workplaces must ensure that staff maintain a safety distance between one another. Companies have to avoid crowding, by introducing shifts, limiting the use of lifts to one person at a time, and paying special attention to the beginnings and ends of shifts. No more than one person at a time can go to communal bathroom facilities, which have to be disinfected six times a day.

Phase 2

Phase 2 of the planned transition to the 'new normality' would see a further loosening of lockdown restrictions, as laid out in the Official State Gazette (BOE) published by the Spanish government on Saturday evening.

The timetable for doing individual exercise outdoors will be made more flexible. People under 70 will are allowed out at any time, excluding the time slots for elderly people to go for a walk or exercise, which remain unchanged: 10am-12 noon and 7-8pm. Time slots only apply in municipalities with more than 10,000 inhabitants.

During this intermediate phase, cinemas and theaters can open to 1/3 of capacity,  as can public monuments and other cultural sites.

Cultural events can have a maximum of 400 people outdoors and 50 indoors.

Schools can begin to host some face-to-face activities with students, such as reinforcement activities, preparation for university entrance exams, and ensuring that children under the age of six can go to school if parents have to go to work and have no one to leave their children with.

Restaurants and cafes can open their indoor seating areas, with table service only and with numbers limited to 40% of capacity. Nightclubs must remain shut.

Weddings are allowed for up to 100 people outdoors and 50 indoors.

The limit on numbers attending funeral wakes is 15 indoors and 25 outdoors; for burials the maximum is 25.

Recreational swimming pools can open up to 1/3 of capacity, but changing room showers cannot be used and safety distancing must always be guaranteed. In addition, door knobs, railings and any other places that might be touched frequently, must be disinfected at least three times a day.

Communal areas in hotels and other tourist accommodation can open to 1/3 of capacity.

Congresses, meetings, and conferences can take place with up to fifty people attending.

Shopping centers can open. Capacity is limited to 40% capacity within shops and 30% in communal areas, which are only to be used to pass through, with no loitering allowed.

Professional sports leagues are allowed to resume, behind closed doors and without spectators. In addition, "full training" is allowed with up to fourteen athletes.