The Canary Islands awaits the judicial endorsement of the Covid certificate

The Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (TSJC) now has 72 hours to decide whether to endorse the voluntary requirement of the Covid certificate in the islands, in businesses with activities deemed as high risk that are subject to restrictions, so that in return they will be able to work at the capacity allowance and opening hours on the level below the one the island is in. Specifically, it is commercial activities that have people in them which increases the risk of contagion of the virus.

The Minister of Health, Blas Trujillo was "optimistic" yesterday that the Canary Islands high court will agree to this proposal after it previously rejected the mandatory requirement in sectors such as hospitality or gyms.

For now, from today, the Canary Islands will begin to require travellers from mainland Spain to present a vaccination certificate, negative test result, or a recovery certificate, which is one of the measures approved by the Government to prevent the spread of the virus and the rise in cases in the face of the rebound of the pandemic, and the proximity of the Christmas holidays.

"The use of the Covid certificate, together with the control of national passengers and vaccination, provide the fundamental tools for the creation of safe work and social environments," said Trujillo yesterday, who met with the Provincial Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Santa Cruz de Tenerife to analyze the epidemiological situation and the main measures to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus.

Business representatives have said they are in favour of the use of the Covid certificate in this way, as well as taking vaccination to workplaces to increase coverage among the population aged 20 to 49, the least immunized in the islands, especially as if a business decides to require the use of the Covid certificate, they can legally request it from staff as well, if approved. The employers’ associations and unions of the archipelago already gave their support to the Government's measures last Friday for this.

In addition, the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS) is studying other ideas such as installing different mobile vaccination points in commercial areas where there are a lot of people in the next few days, to facilitate access to the vaccine, both for companies staff, their customers, and the general public.

Trujillo pointed out that the objective in the Canary Islands is to be more flexible with restrictions, but can only do so if those dealing with the public get vaccinated.

In the event that the TSJC does not ratify the voluntary requirement of the Covid certificate and the pandemic continues to rise in the islands, the Canary Islands Government has prepared an alternative plan to try to stop the spread, which will mean reduced capacity and earlier closing time from December 15^th.