LEVEL 3: Bar and restaurant interiors will close but gyms will be allowed to open
The Government of the Canary Islands yesterday agreed to raise Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura to alert Level 3 (red traffic light), while Lanzarote will remain at Level 2, and the islands of La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro remain at level 1.
The Minister of Health, Blas Trujillo, announced the changes following the Governing Council meeting yesterday after the epidemiological situation was analysed in the Archipelago. This means that Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura will go to Level 3 starting at 00:00h Monday March 22nd (midnight Sunday night). However, all the islands, regardless of their levels, will be subject to new measures for two weeks over Easter from 00:00h on March 26th to 24:00h on April 9th.
RESTRICTIONS AND MODIFICATIONS:
The restrictions at Level 3 for Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, are almost the same as the Reinforced Level 2, with a couple of upadated noticeable additions. Curfew remains at from 10pm to 6am, and maximum groups of four people, except for cohabitants is the same.
The main change is that Level 3 includes the prohibition of consuming inside bars and restaurants, as well as stood or sat at the bar. Originally it was expected that interiors would be allowed at 33% for two reasons. Firstly because restricted Level 2 had interiors maintained at 50%, and secondly because it was announced yesterday that Gyms can stay open to 33% and it was thought that hospitality interiors would be the same.
Unfortunately not. This now means that the interior of bars and restaurants will be closed until at least April 9th, meanwhile the capacity outside and on the terrace is maintained at 50%.
On the other hand, food home delivery service will be allowed until midnight.
As mentioned, Sports activities will be allowed in gyms, but with a maximum capacity of 33%, a distance of 2 metres, use of a mask, and maximum groups of four people, with monitors/instructors.
There is also a perimeter closure in these islands, with people only being able to enter and leave except for just cause in any of the cases included in Royal Decree 996 (work, care for a dependent family member, returning to a family home or reservation in a hotel accommodation, among others).
DATA:
The reasons for these changes are because in the last two weeks an "increase in the accumulated incidence rates has been observed over both 7 and 14 days in a constant manner" in the Archipelago, although with an uneven behaviour in each one of the islands. Thus, in La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro they continue to progress in an “adequate way in all their indicators and will continue at Level 1.
In Lanzarote, the only island that reached Level 4 (extreme risk brown traffic light), and which is currently at level 2, Trujillo pointed out that all the indicators are progressing "satisfactorily", in such a way that in "a short period of time” it could go down to Level 1, although for the time being it will continue in Level 2.
EVOLUTION IN TENERIFE:
Throughout the last two weeks, all the indicators have been "rising steadily and continuously in Tenerife”, in such a way that both the cumulative incidence at 7 days, as well as the incidence for groups over 65 years of age, and occupation of beds in ICUs has led to the decision to increase the risk to Level 3.
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A similar situation has occurred in Fuerteventura, which has been placed in a cumulative incidence at 7 days typical of Level 3. In addition, the incidence in the group of people over 65 years, both at 7 and 14 days, is being placed above the limit of said level, which has resulted in the contingency plan having to be activated at the General Hospital, hence it also rises to Level 3.
In the case of Gran Canaria, Trujillo pointed out that although it has an increase in infections, it is "less significant and a little more muffled", it maintains a "constant and upward growth that it is necessary to stop", in such a way that, following the "anticipation strategy that has been maintained all through the pandemic”, means that it also passes to Level 3, he explained.