December with COVID 19: Christmas plans for the autonomous communities 2020

However, as COVID 19 still remains a threat to health, the Ministry of Health has issued some measures and precautions in all the Autonomous Communities regarding mobility and meetings. It is very important to know them and to respect them in order not to incur in any fault in the order of Civil Law and, of course, to keep safe from a potential contagion.

General measures for Christmas dinner mobilisation

Some general measures have been agreed between the Ministry of Health and the leaders of the Autonomous Communities to limit mobilisation in the territory between 23 December and 6 January 2021. In addition, a maximum of 10 people has been established for Christmas gatherings and meals, including both children and adults.

The exception to this rule only applies to people living in the same household, and it is recommended that no more than two family groups, with no distinction between children and adults, should congregate. This measure aims to be a little more flexible so that people can enjoy Christmas and New Year's Eve dinner, but at the same time avoid groups of individuals that are too large.

Another regulation that will be in place during the holidays is a 1.30am curfew for 24 and 31 December, as long as it is to return home and under no circumstances to go to a social gathering. It is likely that many communities will extend curfew hours on specific days, but it will be necessary to wait for an official announcement.

Perimeter closures

It has been decided that the Autonomous Communities will be closed for the entire Christmas holiday. However, it is up to local governments to establish when the perimeter closures and curfews will be relaxed to allow people to enjoy traditional Christmas meals. The exception to the perimeter closure from 23 December to 6 January currently only applies to the Balearic and Canary Islands.

The Ministry of Health reminds that only essential journeys will be allowed during the perimeter closure, but delegates the power to make the confinements more flexible or eliminate them to the Autonomous Communities in order to facilitate celebrations among family members. In case local governments consider it feasible, they will have to announce which days will be flexible.

With regard to mobility between the Autonomous Communities for visits, no type of justification has been stipulated to allow travel, so that only individual conscience and responsibility are called upon.

Other possible exemptions

It is possible that in the remainder of the month other exceptions will be announced and that the limitations will come into force only on specific days, stricter conditions could be announced, but everything will depend on what the governments of the Autonomous Communities consider appropriate according to their epidemiological situation. In this sense, the autonomous governments have the right to establish more protective measures and safeguards according to the increase of contagions and the number of people in their territory.

Madrid 2020 Christmas Plan

Madrid was one of the communities that did not fully agree with the Health Ministry's measures and has announced its own rules for the Christmas season. However, these rules will be subject to debate in the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System.

With regard to perimeter control, the Madrid region believes that the Ministry of Health has proposed perimeter control in very broad terms and that this could cause a control problem for the State Security Forces. It is also one of the communities that is asking for clearer measures to be applied for Three Kings Day.

Some of the proposals in the Madrid Plan are as follows:

 Only up to 10 people allowed at meetings on 24, 25 and 31 December and 6 January 2021. Measure to be implemented between 3 groups of cohabitants.

• The curfew was reduced to 6:00 hours.
• For the rest of the days the number of people allowed per meeting is 6.
• It is proposed that the perimeter lockdown be the last one for this community.
• Allowed outings for residents of senior centres and people with a disability who have antibodies within the last 6 months or with a negative PCR within the last three months. For those who do not have antibodies or have not been infected with the coronavirus, they will only have to take a test when they return.

Christmas 2020 Plans for the rest of the Autonomous Communities

Below are the measures and recommendations that each of the Autonomous Communities has decided for their respective territories.

Andalusia: only family members will be allowed to enter and leave between 23 December and 6 January 2021. The curfew for returning home only is extended until 7:00 am.

• Aragon: Entry to and exit from the community will only be allowed between 23 and 26 December, then between 30 December and 2 January 2021. For Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve the curfew will be from 1:30 to 6:00.
• Cantabria: at the moment there is no completely clear plan for the perimeter and curfew issue. It is expected that the curfew will be until 1:30 on the 24th and 25th.
• Castilla y León: entry and exit of family members between 23 and 26 December, 31 and 2 January and then 5 and 6 January. Extended curfew until 6:00 on 24 and 25.
• Catalonia: the perimeter closure will remain in place until 2021 and therefore it is unclear whether family members will be allowed to return or leave between communities or outside the country. The curfew for 24 and 25 will be until 6:00 and for 6 January it will be from 23:00 to 6:00.
• Navarra: mobility to enter or leave will be allowed between 23 and 26 December and between 30 December and 2 January. Curfew from 1:30 to
• 6:00 on 24 and 25. The same measures will apply in the Autonomous Community of Navarre.
• Valencia: mobility will be allowed on 23, 24, 25, 31 December and 1 January for family and friends. The curfew in force will be from 1:30 to 6:00 between 24 and 26 December and on 31 December and 1 January.
• Extremadura: there are no announced days for travel and the curfew will be for the 18th, 19th, 24th and 25th until 1:30 am.
• Murcia: mobility allowed on 24, 25, 31 December and 1 January 2021 for families only. During the same days the curfew will be from 1:30 to 6:00.
• Basque Country: mobility will be allowed from 23 to 26 December and from 30 December to 2 January. For the 24th and 25th the curfew will be from 1:30 to 6:00.

We hope that all this information will allow you to have a clear idea of what the security measures will be for this Christmas 2020. If you have any questions about the upcoming announcements of the Autonomous Communities or any other Civil Law regulations, please contact us.