Temporary suspension of regional restrictions is confirmed in the BOC

Yesterday, Thursday, the Governing Council of the Canary Islands approved an agreement to temporarily suspend all of the regional restrictions they imposed, as part of the continuation of the progressive and prudent de-escalation of measures that they began in February.

This morning it has been published in the Boletin Oficial de Canarias (BOC), which confirms that from tonight, 00.00H Saturday 26^th March, all their restrictions are lifted in all of the islands until midnight on Saturday 30^th April 2022.

It explains that this is a “conditional suspension in each island due to the absence of a significant change in the trend that indicates an uncontrolled circulation of SARS-CoV-2, or a change in the epidemiological situation.”

This means that if an unfavourable evolution of the virus or epidemiological situation is detected on any island, the reactivation of the restrictive measures established in Decree-Law 11/2021 could be reintroduced for that territory.

In layman’s terms, it means don’t go mad over Easter, continue to act responsibly, prove that we can live with the virus, or restrictions may have to be re-enforced.

This agreement, in line with the measures adopted in the rest of Spain and neighbouring countries, is due to the new health situation as a result of the wide vaccination of the population, because the vaccines greatly reduce virus replication in the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, which is why vaccinated people generally present milder symptoms.

At the same time, the evidence shows that the Omicron variants do have a high incidence of transmission, but are not causing as many hospitalizations or deaths.

However, this high incidence of transmission keeps the islands at the alert levels they are in, without increasing the impact on care pressure or significantly the occupancy of conventional or ICU beds in hospitals.

CHANGES IN ALERT LEVELS:
From Monday, 28^th March, an extra alert level is being introduced, which is Level 0. All are based on the indicators showing care pressure, and the alert level will be defined by the indicator of that block that has the highest level of risk.

MEASURES SUSPENDED:
According to the agreement, as of March 26th, all the measures contemplated in Decree-Law 11/2021 cease to be in force, that is, those related to capacity, closing hours, and limitation on the number of people allowed to meet/group sizes.

In addition, it is no longer necessary to have prior authorization to hold mass events, and the ban on holding popular festivals and cultural festivities is suspended.

Lastly, nightlife, sports, and cultural activities will be able to take place under the same conditions as they did before the start of the pandemic.

PREVENTION MEASURES STILL IN FORCE:
However, the importance of maintaining current transmission prevention regulations is made clear, the use of the mask indoors is still mandatory, and hand washing, extra ventilation, and extreme care and prevention of transmission among vulnerable people, or in vulnerable areas (hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, etc) is recommended.