What will it be like this Christmas with Covid-19? Let’s see what restrictions and measures we will have to follow this year in Spain and in Galicia region, in view of the Christmas celebrations.
Christmas in Covid times
This year has not been easy and we continue to have a complex situation in terms of new coronavirus cases. For this reason, the central government of Spain, like the various autonomous communities, has studied an action plan to minimize the spread of the virus as much as possible. Moreover, from the Ministry of Health, they do not rule out the possibility of tightening up the measures if the situation continues to worsen, to avoid a “third wave” in the country. Communities will be able to establish cities’ closures and ban travel during Christmas, if they think that this might be necessary to prevent the situation.
The Christmas plan presented by the government on December 2, and to which each community can apply variations if it considers it necessary, includes meetings of up to 10 people (family and friends) allowed on December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1. These displacements may be subject to police controls, which may even require a document with the details of the family members being visited. For example, the communities of Navarre or the Basque Country, will require the signing of a responsible declaration with the details of the person who is travelling and those of the person who receives him/her at home, specifying addresses and kinship.
In addition, a curfew was established at 1:30 a.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. But everything can change if the evolution of the pandemic continues to worsen. The specialists and the government representatives talk about “making a last effort”, and “not throwing everything away”. For this reason, some regions such as Castilla and León, decided to close the restaurants on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve at 10 pm. A huge effort to avoid big crowds and reduce the propagation of the virus.
Christmas in the time of COVID in Galicia
Galicia, like some other autonomies, has presented more restrictive measures at the level of social interaction. Unfortunately, a tightening of these measures cannot be ruled out in case the situation worsens. To know more about the updated data of the active cases in Galicia, you can consult this web. Let’s see in detail the measures established in the community of Galicia.
Closure of Galicia
The Galician community will be closed between December 23 and January 6. This means that no one will be able to enter or leave the region without justified reasons. These include family meetings but not, for example, travels for leisure purposes. The same measure applies to those councils that are still closed and have mobility restrictions.
Meetings of maximum 6 people
With respect to family meetings on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, a maximum of two family units will be admitted, and only 6 people will be allowed to join. Children under 10 years old will not be counted. In any case, the recommendation of the authorities is to limit the meetings only to the family unit living together. In this last case there will be no limitations on the number of people. The Xunta is also studying a third scenario. In fact, it contemplates that an exception could be made for up to three family groups, in the specific case of the elderly.
Same family nucleus
Only the same family groups can meet on both occasions, that is, the people who meet on New Year’s Eve will be the same as on Christmas Eve.
Curfew
This measure follows the state standard. On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, the curfew is set at 1:30 a.m., which is the maximum limit for returning home. During the Christmas period that does not include these two dates, the curfew will remain in effect between 11pm and 6am.
Health recommendations for Christmas
The recommendations of the Galician Minister of Health, Julio García Comesaña, also refer to the measures to be followed in these meetings. We continue with the same anti-Covid measures that we already know during Christmas time. Using masks, ventilating frequently, washing our hands often and maintaining a distance of 1.5 meters between diners. It is also advisable to avoid social relationships as much as possible before these holidays.
Registration of travellers
Travelers entering the territory from other communities will also have to register in the travelers’ registry. This measure is mandatory for people coming from the following communities: Aragon, Asturias, Cantabria, Castile and Leon, Melilla, the Basque Country and La Rioja. In the case of those coming from abroad, it is still obligatory to have a negative PCR made at the origin country.
Thinking about 2021 with optimism
It is true that we will have to spend a very peculiar Christmas and that a last great effort awaits us in this difficult 2020. But from Galiwonders, we want to think optimistically about the coming year, the Holy Year 2021. We are already dreaming about all the reasons to return to the Way of Saint James after this pandemic.