Protecting health from the coronavirus unleashes a colossal economic slowdown in the hope that it will be temporary. The Council of Ministers approved yesterday, after a long debate, the generalized closure of activities, both educational and of commercial establishments not considered essential and a strong restriction on transport for at least fifteen days with a "guarantee" of supply of basic products and infrastructure operation. However, the plan to mitigate the economic damage remains for not before the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, as announced by the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, despite the fact that he anticipated that "the impact will be far-reaching." It has barely outlined - as in past days - aid to the self-employed and workers, liquidity relief for companies and flexibility to make temporary employment adjustments. The lack of specification contrasts with the fact that on the 9th, Sánchez himself said that he had already "prepared a crash plan for a couple of weeks."

LIMITATION OF CIRCULATION AND COMMERCIAL CLOSURE

.The Government limits the free movement of citizens throughout Spain. Only movements, both pedestrian and vehicle, will be allowed to acquire food, pharmaceuticals and basic necessities, to go to the bank, to health centers, to the workplace to carry out their work, professional or business provision, or to return to the habitual place of residence. Not only food shops, but also hairdressers, dry cleaners, opticians, orthopedics, animal feed, press, tobacconists or communications are allowed to remain open, but avoiding crowds.

It is also allowed to leave for the assistance and care of the elderly, minors, dependents, people with disabilities or especially vulnerable people. In general, it is allowed to leave "due to force majeure or a situation of need", or for "any other activity of a similar nature duly justified."

If the trip is by car, it will only be allowed for the aforementioned activities or for refueling at gas stations or service stations.

However, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande Marlaska, will have the ability to "agree to close the circulation of roads or sections of them for reasons of public health, safety or fluidity of traffic or the restriction on them of access by certain vehicles for the same reasons ». The decree prohibits going out for leisure, according to Sánchez, who gave as an example "going to dinner at a friend's house."

CATERING

The decree establishes that the competent authorities may adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the food supply in the places of consumption and the operation of the services of the production centers, allowing the distribution of food from the origin to the commercial establishments for sale. to the consumer, including warehouses, logistics centers and destination markets.

If it is necessary for security reasons, the decree establishes that the accompaniment of the vehicles that carry the food may be agreed. The intervention of companies or services is also foreseen, as well as the mobilization of the State Security Forces and Bodies and the Armed Forces.

The regulation also contemplates that, when necessary, sanitary corridors will be established to allow the entry and exit of people, raw materials and products made with destination or from necessary establishments.

TELEWORK

. The obligation of public and private companies to provide the means for workers to carry out their work by non-contact means "whenever possible" is established.

INFRASTRUCTURES

.Essential service operators such as electricity or telecommunications companies are obliged to take the necessary measures to ensure the provision of such services. Critical infrastructures are considered those of the nuclear, chemical, water and energy industries, information and communication technologies, transport, food and the financial and tax system.

The requirement to ensure these services will also be adopted by those companies and providers that, not being considered critical, are key to ensuring the supply of the population and the essential services themselves.

A special section is dedicated to energy to guarantee the supply of electrical energy, products derived from petroleum or natural gas, as provided for in article 7 of the Electricity Sector Law and articles 49 and 101 of the Electricity Sector Law. Hydrocarbons.

TRANSPORT

The Royal Decree promotes a strong restriction to favor a decrease in mobility. Finally, commuter services are 100% maintained, but medium-distance public transport services for road, rail, air and maritime passengers will be reduced by at least 50% as a result of the declaration of the State of alarm. The cut can be extended up to 60% if deemed necessary.

In services in which the ticket grants a seat or cabin, transport operators or ticket marketing channels may only offer one third of the maximum available seats for sale to guarantee the distance between travelers.

In all cases, the Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, José Luis Ábalos, is empowered to modify this percentage to guarantee supplies and go to the job.

REQUIREMENTS

They are temporarily allowed for all kinds of goods that are considered necessary for security and essential services.

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  • Spain
  • José Luis Ábalos
  • Pedro Sánchez
  • economy
  • Coronavirus
  • Covid 19

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