Access Out of La Línea Restricted by New Junta de Andalucía Covid-19 Measures: What you need to know

At 6:00 PM this Tuesday, a perimeter closure of all Andalusian municipalities will come into force, as well as the cessation of all ‘non-essential activities’. The night-time curfew has officially been brought forward to 10 PM.

Correction: Entry into La Línea from Gibraltar will be unimpaired but once in La Línea, those who have crossed the frontier will be subject to the same restrictions as to travel within the region as applied to all others.

The Junta de Andalucía has approved new restrictions in a bid to slow the spread of Covid-19 in the area, which will see much more stringent measures in place as from 0:00 this Tuesday until 23rd of November. These restrictions will not affect fluidity at the frontier. This has been confirmed to ReachExtra by the central and regional governments, which means that once in La Línea, access to other parts of the region will only be allowed for a number of specified reasons.

As indicated by the central and regional government, although the Royal Decree enacting the new state of alarm in Spain specifies that it will not affect the frontier (Article 9), once you are within the Spanish territory, the restrictions in the autonomous community which you enter into apply.

In other words, a Gibraltarian will be able to travel to La Línea through the frontier, but once there, will not be able to go to San Roque or other municipalities except for the reasons which have been laid down.

Mobility between both municipalities, will be limited unless in the case of ‘force majeure’, or other reasons such as work, which will need to be duly accredited beforehand.

Cases in which travel is allowed

Travel between Andalusian municipalities will be allowed in the following cases:

• Attending university, teaching and educational centres, including nurseries.
• Return to a place of habitual or family residence.
• Attending to the care for the elderly, minors, dependents, people with disabilities and people with special vulnerabilities.
• Travel to financial and insurance entities or refuelling stations in neighbouring territories.
• Required or urgent actions before public, judicial or notarial bodies.
• For the renewal of permits and official documentation, as well as other administrative procedures that cannot be postponed.
• Taking official exams or tests that cannot be postponed.
• Because of a ‘force majeure’ or other situation of need.

‘Non-Essential Activity’ to come to an End at 6 PM

In addition, all ‘non-essential activity’ must cease at six in the afternoon, but in the province of Granada this restriction will be unlimited.

What activities and establishments will be allowed to continue after six in the afternoon?:

• Retail, commercial and establishments which serve food, beverages and other basic necessities and products.
• Industrial activity.
• These closing hours will not apply to those catering establishments where music is not played because these places already have a special regime.
• Professional services and household employees.
• Social and health centres, services and establishments.
• Veterinary centres or clinics.
• Opticians and orthopaedic products.
• Hygienic products.
• Bookstores and stationery.
• Fuel, Technical Inspection of Vehicles and driving schools.
• Home delivery services.
• Mortuaries.
• Sports centres for outdoor physical activity.
• Hairdressers.
• Social dining rooms and establishments for the delivery and distribution of food.

How will the curfew affect schools?

The curfew has been brought forward throughout Andalucía; meaning it will be in force between 10 PM and 7 AM.

Schools and education establishments will remain open throughout the Andalusian territory, even in the afternoon shifts, but face-to-face activity at universities will be suspended and must be carried out online.

These new restrictions have been published this Monday in the Official Gazette of the Junta de Andalucía (BOJA) in an order that modifies the one of October 29 and establishes the health alert levels, as well as new temporary and exceptional measures for reasons of public health in Andalusia for the containment of Covid-19.

The president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, has indicated that the tightening of measures has two objectives: protecting the health of Andalusians, as well as the employment and daily support of thousands of families, and that the new restrictions follow the recommendations of the High Impact Public Health Alerts Council of Andalusia.

Covid Map

“It has been a difficult decision, but it needs to be applied to avoid the collapse of our health services”, Moreno said. He has also said that the Andalusian Government has set up an interactive Covid map, where you can find the statistics for each municipality via phone, computer or tablet.

Moreno argues that the measures that were already in force “seem to be having the effect of containing it”, but warned that they are not enough. The Andalusian Autonomous Community has now exceeded the numbers of hospitalised people and ICU patients since the first wave in March and April. This Sunday, there were already 3,151 people in hospital said to be due to Covid-19 in Andalusia, of which 455 have been reported to be in ICU.

“We have to keep acting. The data obliges us to continue taking action, taking into account the difficult times that are coming”, added the president of Andalucía, who highlighted that society is facing a virus that has taken the lives of more than 300 Andalusians in the last 8 days.

He has also insisted that Andalusians be prudent and responsible and has called on citizens to comply with the rules so as not to put lives at risk.

In relation to the closure of so-called ‘non-essential activity’, Moreno has said that he has entrusted the Minister of Economy, Finance and Employment with a regional rescue plan for those affected by these measures, and has proposed rescue plans to the National government for companies, particularly in the services sector, and within in the hotel and restaurant industry “which are going to be affected”.

Finally, he has asked for the National government of Spain to assume part of the responsibility in relation to the application of the measures and to enforce the regulations via the Civil Guard and the National Police: “It is essential that clear instructions be given and that the forces of law and order be mobilised as neccessary. It is vital to deter gatherings of people, especially in the so-called open air binge drinking areas. The reckless have to be treated with inflexibility.”