It is now official. Spain has a common plan for Christmas 2020. This will be different all over the world due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in order to avoid a third wave of coronavirus infections.
The measures approved include extending the limit on mobility on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve until 1:30 a.m. and perimetral confinements of regions throughout the Christmas period, except for family and friends’ travel. In addition, dinners and lunches can be held for a maximum of 10 people, without specifying whether children or adults, on December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1.
Although the plan is for all communities and mandatory, the Community of Madrid has opposed the border closure of the regions. Meanwhile Catalonia, which does support the restrictions, has abstained because they consider it is the communities that have to make their own decisions.
For Health Minister Salvador Illa, the agreement reached on Wednesday can be summarised in one sentence: “At Christmas we stay at home and limit all unnecessary movements.”
As agreed the limitation on entry and exit between communities will be effective from December 23 to January 6. This excludes properly justified travel, which occurs for any of the reasons provided in the state of alarm decree, and going to the habitual residence of family or friends.
