Friday 1st May – UK
The Government announce that the target of 100,00 Covid-19 tests per day has been achieved before the end of April as planned. However, this figure includes test kits mailed out, not actual laboratory tests completed.
Saturday 2nd May – Spain
Adults can now take an hour’s exercise per day, with one person with whom they share a house but no more than 1 kilometere radius from home. We also have to adhere to a timetable: 6am-10am – adults; 10am-12pm – people with carers; 12pm-7pm – 3 children max & 1 adult (as per the regulations stated the previous week); 7pm-8pm – the vulnerable again & adults/couples from 8pm-11pm.
Beaches are still officially off limits, but it seems that those of us who live close are not challenged for walking a short distance.
This is phase 0 of the de-escalation with further periodic phases to follow so-long as infections continue to fall. As infection rates differ widely across Spain, the different autonomous regions will have to meet certain criteria & apply to Central Government for approval to move into the next phase.
Monday 4th May – Spain
Face masks are now compulsory on public transport.
Tuesday 5th May – Spain & UK
The UK death toll becomes the highest recorded in Europe at 32,313. The Government defend this stating that, unlike other European countries, the UK is the only nation to record ALL Coronavirus mortalities.
In contrast, our La Safor area of Spain, covered by the Francesc de Borja Hospital in Gandia (health area 12) achieve ‘Zero-Zero’ status having had no new infection cases & no new deaths. Total infections are 242 cases whilst there have been 27 total deaths.
Wednesday 6th May – Spain & UK
There was some doubt whether the Spanish PM would receive sufficient support of opposition parties to extend the state of alarm for a 4th time. However, Congress authorises another 15-day extension to 24th May.
Boris announces that the UK could start to lift lockdown week commencing 11th May.
Friday 8th May – Spain
The PM reveals which areas of Spain will move into the next de-escalation Phase 1 for a period of 2 weeks. This includes our La Safor area, but not all territories have the healthcare capacity to move out of Phase 0 at this time, including Valencia City.
Saturday 9th May – Spain
La Safor have had a week without any coronavirus fatalities. Just 1 person remains in hospital, but none in ICU. There are 244 infection cases.
Sunday 10th May – Spain & UK
Just 143 fatalities are recorded in Spain – the lowest daily death rate since 18th March. However, after 8 days without any fatalities, La Safor records 1 death to an overall total of 28, whilst infection cases stand at 244.
There are protests in the wealthy Salamanca district of Madrid with demonstrators not maintaining social distancing & accusing the Government of using the coronavirus crisis to abtain extra powers. The PM, Pedro Sánchez, of the Socialist Party (PSOE), heads a minority government & he has been facing growing difficulty to secure enough support from Congress for back-to-back extensions to the state of alarm.
Meanwhile, Boris addresses the nation with a very confusing speech regarding exit from UK lockdown. He encourages everyone to ‘Stay Alert’ whilst Scotland & Wales retain & advise ‘Stay at Home’. UK daily deaths are 268.
Whilst UK residents wallow in confusion, there are many infographics & posters to explain what’s allowed here in Spain. In local town Gandia, a stall is setup in the town centre with advisors issuing booklets to clearly illustrate what’s permissable in the various phases of lockdown.
Monday 11th May – Spain
La Safor moved into Phase 1 with some cafe-bars opening their terraces at the permitted 50% capacity, therefore booking was necessary at the most popular. Oliva council examined each bar & where possible, approved an extension to their outside space so additional tables could be added. Later, blue tape would mark out the allowable positions of tables within the usual terrace area & red for tables in the extension.
Bars need to close at 11pm & residents have to be home by this time too.
There were soon many photos on Facebook of people enjoying a beer or meal for the first time in many weeks. Rob & I chose not to break lockdown so soon, not feeling a desparate need to have a drink out.
There’s some confusion whether adults can go to a cafe outside of their exercise times & different regions seem to interpret this differently.
2 people from the same household can now travel together in a car, but no-one is allowed to travel beyond their immediate healthcare authority boundaries.
2 weeks after children were allowed out, La Safor records another death & infections are perhaps beginning to creep up with 5 new cases today followed by another 5 on 12th May.
Thursday 14th May – Spain
Having moved into this house on lockdown day, after 2 months living here I had a list of minor DIY tasks & items that could not be bought in the supermarket. I was therefore delighted to discover that at least one of the smaller Chinese bazaar shops was open.
On my shopping trip, I took the opportunity to meet a friend for a chat. We sat apart at the far ends of a street bench under some trees, for once clean of bird poo due to the ongoing steralisation of the roads & street furniture. The time was 3.30pm &, as this is the children’s exercise time as the adults need to wait intil 8pm to take theirs, we discussed whether we were actually allowed to be there.
It’s becoming 2nd nature to wait in-turn to use the hand gel & put on disposable gloves before entering shops. No pull-along baskets were available in Lidl, likely due to the effort necessary to steralise, & trollys had the coin slot taped-up.
When queuing to pay, distanced at 2 metres, so beyond the till & back up the aisle, a shopper spotted a ‘gap’ at the end of the conveyor so just walked straight up & unloaded her shopping…
After a day without infections, La Safor records 6 new cases, though no deaths.
Friday 15th May – Spain
Gandia in conjunction with Global Omnium will be implementing an innovative system to test for coronavirus in sewage & wastewater.
Spain’s National Research Council has been commissioned by the secretary of State for tourism & the Spanish Tourism Quality Institute to test sea & swimming pool water & sand to find out whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus can survive in them, & if so, for how long.
The Civil guard are warning of potential social unrest & acts of sabbotage as some citizens begin to oppose the state of alarm measures.
La Safor have 296 positive coronavirus cases with 4 people admitted to hospital. However, the figures may be higher for some days due to increased testing.
Saturday 16th May – Spain
Spain closes it’s borders. Until an initial date of 15th June, travellers into Spain will be severely restricted & those admitted will have to self-quarantine for 14 days. Just 3 airports on the mainland (Madrid, Barcelona & Malaga) will receive planes from abroad, whilst 8 ports in the whole of Spain, including the islands, will admit ships from abroad.
The PM is to ask Congress to extend the state of alarm by a further 4 weeks to 24th June.
The UK is also planning to implement a 2 week quarantine period.
Spain records just 102 deaths today, the lowest since 18th March, with an overall total of 27,563 whilst 230,698 people are infected.
There were 468 fatalities in the UK during the last 24 hours, whilst the country records an overall total of 34,446 & infections at 240,161.
After total shock & disbelief about the coronavirus situation in March, after a couple of months, I’d become accustomed to the new norm. However, knowing that it will be so difficult to see family is disturbing. Only close family members of Spanish citizens are allowed in the country, not those of residents. It’s never really bothered me living so far away from family, even when I was ill in hospital last year. However, there was always the option to easily travel between Spain & the UK & now we cannot is very unsettling.
Sunday 17th May – Spain
Clapping for the service workers has continued each evening for more than 2 months, starting in darkness before seeing the nights grow lighter. However, as lockdown de-escalates through the different phases, there are less people at home at 8pm. Therefore, though the clapping may continue, for those not participating, there will be a final opportunity for the whole nation to applause at 8pm today.
At 87, deaths in Spain were below 100 for the first time since 18th March. In La Safor, the 4 patients admitted to the Covid ward were discharged for monitoring & treatment in the community. For the first time since 12th March, when the first case was admitted, Gandia Hospital has no coronavirus patients. Fatalities for the region remain at a total of 278.
This weekend, as part of Operation Silk Road, two more planes landed in Spain with medical supplies for the Valencian Community: 700,000 gloves, 10,000 gowns & 90,000 FFP2 masks. In total, 652.4 tons of products have been purchased: 20.7 million masks, 11 million gloves, 1.3 million PPE, 700,000 goggles, 20,000 thermometers, 310,000 gowns, 100,000 quick tests, 336,000 surgical hats & 200,000 panties.
Monday 18th May – Spain
The mortality rate fell once again & for the 2nd day in a row, at 59, there were less than 100 deaths in the whole of Spain.
There were less than 300 new infections, but as we have been able to exercise for the last fortnight, will cases begin to rise again this week?
Wednesday 20th May – Spain
Sanchez asked Congress for a 5th extension to the state of alarm to 7th June & this was approved. It’s expected the PM will ask one more time for a 6th & final extension to late June.
The Valencian Community was alone in not requesting a move to Phase 2 from next Monday 26th. I do agree this is sensible.
Wealthy residents in Madrid continue to protest against the lockdown measures. In their big houses, these right wingers with plenty of money are likely the most least affected by the state of alarm! A short video of a fat protestor shouting from a megaphone in the back of his chauffeur driven open-top car goes viral on twitter. The chauffeur wears a mask, the protestor doesn’t…
Thursday 21st May – Spain
The use of masks in public places (any mask, but preferably hygienic or surgical) covering the nose & mouth is now mandatory in public spaces, so outside, inside & where it’s not possible to maintain a distance of 2 metres. The bars are open & this will make it a little difficult to drink beer! As an asthmatic, Rob won’t have to wear a mask, but he won’t be popular as he sneezes a lot due to his allergies!!
My temperature wasn’t taken when entering the health centre for my blood test & the whole atmosphere seemed more relaxed. I smiled at other patients waiting – with my eyes I hoped – as our mouths were behind masks.
I met a friend for coffee, sitting on opposite sides of the table & lowering our masks to drink. Most people in town were wearing masks, but not all. As I struggle to understand Spanish at the best of times, communicating is made more difficult when I’m unable to see a person’s lips.
Our street is busier as owners of holidays homes, living in Valencia Province, can return to their properties. We live in the south of the province so can drive 1.5 hours to Sagunto, beyond Valencia city, but not 5 minutes to Pego & Denia just down the road, as these towns are located in Alicante Province!
Friday 22nd May – Spain & UK
For the 6th consecutive day, deaths in Spain remain below 100 with total fatalities at 26,628. However, Catalunya have omitted to issue some figures so these will need to be added in due-course. The UK are experiencing around 300 mortalities per day whilst their total death toll is 36,393.
It’s revealed that the UK Government have tested the same people twice, but actually recorded these instances as 2 tests to bump-up the official figure to prove they are meeting their target! Why am I not surprised?
There are calls for Government advisor Dominic Cummings to resign as it seems he & his wife broke lockdown to travel, whilst infected, from London to Durham so his parents could care for their child during their illness. If true, he broke so many rules/guidelines implemented by the Government, it beggers belief!
No.10 defend his journey stating is was essential that he travelled more than 250 miles to ensure his young child could be properly cared-for – really!? FFS
Tuesday 26th May – Spain
I had a much-needed haircut! The salon is very small with just one stylist, the owner Richard, so I was the only customer as I arrived for my appointment. Richard was carefully steaming & disinfecting all surfaces & chairs as I arrived before I used the hand gel & sat under a disposable polythene gown instead of the usual washable nylon kind. Both wearing masks, we discussed the coronavirus situation as he carefully trimmed my hair, holding the mask elastic away from my ears with one hand & snipping with the other.
Unlike the confusing messages in the UK, Spain’s local governments continue to provide clear guidelines, information & infographics regarding restrictions, hygeine & use of masks etc. Is this perhaps due to the amount of illiteracy in the population of our area?
Sunday 31st May
Spain registers lowest number of new coronavirus cases in three months.
The Health Ministry today reported just 96 infections in the last 24 hours, with 39 deaths over the last week
The Spanish government has secured the support that it will need in the Congress of Deputies to pass a sixth extension to the ongoing state of alarm, which was first implemented by the Cabinet on March 14 in a bid to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
The executive has reached a deal with the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), which will vote in favor of the extension, according to sources from the group. Meanwhile, the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) will abstain at the vote in Spain’s lower house of parliament on Wednesday, after voting against the last two extensions.
