The Official Boletin of the Canary Islands (BOC) published the review of the pandemic prevention measures at the different alert levels yesterday (Monday), with the reduction of some of the previous restrictions, but with the obligation of a Covid certificate to access certain establishments and premises.
Tenerife rises to alert level 4 for coronavirus after weeks with most of its epidemiological indicators at high or very high risk, even though, like the global trend there are more cases but very few deaths, but increased pressure on the health service lead to the decision.
After the updates have been published, the new level 4 is now very similar to level 3 apart from some capacity changes and the Covid certificate, which over 900,000 people have now downloaded in the Canary Islands with 200,000 since the announcement.
Here are the activities and situations for which proof of vaccination (UK tourists can use the NHS app) or the EU Digital Covid certificate is required to do:
What you must show: proof of full vaccination (two doses of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, or the Janssen single-dose vaccine), proof of negative Covid-19 test in last 72 hours, recovery from Covid-19 in the last six months.
Hospitality: to eat or drink inside bars, restaurants and cafes you must show proof; it is not necessary to sit outside on terraces or to walk through the interior to use toilet facilities (wearing a mask), or for under 18s to show one.
Cultural activities: Under this classification, you must show proof to go to the cinema, a theatre, auditoriums and other venues that hold shows or events, and again only those fully vaccinated (or test/recovery) will be admitted, and under 18s are exempt.
Physical and sporting activities: In non-federated or non-professional activities indoors in a gym, sports centre, municipal sporting facility, dance school etc, proof must be shown, masks must be worn at all times, and social distancing of 2 metres must be maintained between those training at all times.
For this reason, any contact sports or sparring are prohibited, and group classes are a maximum of 4 people including the instructor.
Under 18s are exempt from proof, but masks, distancing and group sizes apply.
Gambling venues: This includes casinos, bingo halls and arcades, where a maximum of four people are allowed at a table, no food and drink is allowed, and under 18s aren’t allowed in the venues anyway.
Mass events: Under current Covid regulations, a ‘mass event’ is any event for more than 10 people that takes place outside of licensed premises and needs authorisation to take place. At Level 4 the general recommendation is that they don’t take place, but there will be some from the Ayuntamientos with outside stages etc, and it’s those that this applies to.
Other: According to the BOC there are no other places that proof is required, for example, to go shopping or to do paperwork at a Government building, however, it does give authority to local Municipalities to implement their own additions if they feel the need to do so. Because of this, it is best to have a copy of your certificate on your phone so if you are asked for it you always have it on you.
Finally, getting vaccinated is everyone’s personal choice, but if you haven’t been, then life is going to get far more difficult as the requirement for these activities at this level is just the start... there will be more on the way.
