I'll be in 'Phase 0.5' or Phase 1 from Monday - what am I allowed to do?

Article updated Sunday, May 17, 16.50pm

From May 18, residents of the health regions of Girona, Lleida and Central Catalonia advance to Phase 1 of the lockdown de-escalation plan, as do those living in certain parts of Barcelona metropolitan south, specifically the areas of Garraf and Alt Penedès.

The rest of the Barcelona metropolitan area, including the city proper, sees some restrictions eased, moving to what has been dubbed 'Phase 0.5'. 

The western Pyrenees (Alt Pirineu i Aran), the Ebre river region (Terres de l’Ebre) and the Tarragona area (Camp de Tarragona) advanced to Phase 1 on May 11.

Here's an interactive map to see which municipalities are in Phase 1 and which are in Phase 0.5 from May 18.

 

 

Activities allowed in 'Phase 0.5'

Shops under 400m2 can open without prior appointment. Capacity is limited to 30% with a minimum distance of two meters between customers. Malls and shopping centers remain shut. There are to be specific times especially for customers over 65. Outdoor markets may open with council approval, and with restrictions. 

Libraries can open for lending.

High Performance Centers for professional athletes such as Sant Cugat HPC can open but gyms for the general public remain shut.

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

Places of worship are able to open at one third of their capacity, with face masks recommended and the use of communal holy water fonts in churches prohibited. Outdoor funeral wakes are allowed with a maximum of 15 people, and indoors with a maximum of 10 people.

Museums and galleries can open to 1/3 capacity, for visiting only, but not for other cultural activities.

Athletes who are members of a sports federation can practice sport anywhere in their region, twice a day within the allocated time slots (6-10am and 8-11pm).

Bar and restaurants terraces remain closed in 'Phase 0.5', as do hotels. Socialising in groups is not allowed. Time slots for leaving the house to exercise or go for a walk remain in place, but will only apply in towns with more than 5,000 inhabintants, due to increase to 10,000 in the coming days, as announced on Sunday.

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.

Shops under 400m2 can open without prior appointment. Capacity is limited to 30% with a minimum distance of two meters between customers. Larger establishments are allowed to open part of their premises up to a limit of 400m2. Malls and shopping centers remain shut. Outdoor markets may open with council approval, and with restrictions. There are to be specific times especially for customers over 65.

During Phase 1 museums and galleries can open to 1/3 capacity, for visiting only, but not for other cultural activities. 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.

Religious buildings are able to open at one third of their capacity, with face masks recommended and the use of communal holy water fonts in churches prohibited. Outdoor funeral wakes are allowed with a maximum of 15 people, and indoors with a maximum of 10 people.

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.