• Foreign: Spain's foreign challenge to the coronavirus: from the first worldwide repatriation to image damage
  • Politics: The coronavirus tests the effectiveness of autonomous Spain

The duffel is ready. All located, waiting for the call to arrive at any moment. That call that puts everyone back in dance. The one that places Spain on alert before a relapse in a dangerous situation: the invisible enemy gains strength again.

That call that would reactivate the already baptized as Operation Balmis 2 and would turn it into the second great military mobilization in the national territory of democracy.

For weeks, under the command of the Chief of Defense Staff , General Villarroya , the armies have been preparing to face an outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, a situation that forces them to act in a coordinated manner in several points at the same time. of the national territory.

Because, as Jemad himself explained to EL MUNDO in a recent interview, Operation Balmis 2 could be activated immediately, so that the armies were in any part of Spain at full capacity in a period of no more than 24 hours.

From Defense they explain that in recent weeks they have been reviewing all the action protocols that were carried out during the state of alarm in order to improve deployments. "The military are always making plans for everything and for all possible scenarios," they explain from the General Staff. And they understand that what has been done is an audit.

One of the modifications that have been carried out (or are in it) is the improvement of the stock of basic necessities so that the troops of the Armed Forces can participate in activities against the coronavirus in the best conditions. "If the military is infected, they are not useful and must stay home," they explain.

Thus, activities in the field of military pharmacy are being completed, so that there are strategic reserves with which to confront the outbreaks of Covid-19 with guarantees.

Another of the priority aspects that have been launched by Defense is the reinforcement of Military Health , an area that has been reduced in material and human resources in recent years, and which is now considered a priority.

It needs specialists, more volume of toilets, "that all pending places are covered", clarify from the Department of Margarita Robles, which has given priority to these needs.

The Balmis operation was an unprecedented challenge for the Armed Forces. The mobilization that took place during the state of alarm had not occurred in the modern history of our country. And to combat an invisible enemy that has not yet disappeared.

Support to the population

The Armed Forces put an end on June 21 to the largest military deployment in Spain in peacetime. Since March 15 and during the 98 days of state of alarm, the military carried out 20,000 interventions to support the population and public services in their efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

More than 11,000 disinfections were carried out, 5,301 interventions in nursing homes, almost 5,000 operations in hospitals, health centers and social centers. More than 180,000 troops were participating in the Balmis operations .

In support of security: presence in streets and critical points, reinforcement at borders and surveillance of nuclear power plants. In logistical support: land and air transport, transfer of the sick and deceased, reception and distribution of medical supplies. And, without a doubt, one of the most impressive missions: the transfer of corpses (more than 1,500) to the facilities of the Ice Palace in Madrid . Hundreds of military personnel have needed psychological help.

“We see it far away, but we are prepared for whatever it takes. Even, much more prepared than in the first phase, “Army commanders point out in the face of a possible action similar to that of the state of alarm.

And if necessary, the military are willing in their new plans to participate, in collaboration with the State Security Forces , in citizen security tasks. Because until now their participation has been based mainly on health and logistical support, as well as border control and security in critical infrastructures.

The State Security Forces (National Police, Civil Guard, local and regional) ran with the weight of shielding the streets. When we were all supposed to be at home, it was these agents who, with the Citizen Security Law - yes, the one known by the current Government as the Gag Law - in hand, they rebuked us if the instructions set by the Government were not followed. And the coercive machine, the economic sanctions and even the arrest was effective. The sanctions that the State security forces had to apply during the confinement were counted in the tens of thousands. Now, like the FAS, they are analyzing what they need to improve from their previous performances. They re-study their work plans.

Avoid contagion from agents

And the first conclusion they have reached is the following: it is necessary to shield our operatives, that they leave with guarantees from day one so that they do not enter the contagion phase. As police sources recall, during the first weeks, the number of troops who were isolated due to having been in contact with infected was enormous. And that greatly reduced the number of agents available to patrol the streets and shield the state of alarm. "So that it does not happen again it is necessary that we shield ourselves and that the number of troops away from risk is high," they point out from this institution.

But, as both the Police and the Civil Guard recall, another of the complex scenarios on which they work is no longer a high number of infected, but a delicate situation of social pressure, of conflict in the streets due to the effect of the economic crisis derived from the coronavirus. Both within the Civil Guard and the Police they have got down to work and not only have their action plans improved in case they are required to face a situation similar to the one experienced, but also based on their data and their forecasts have made numerous action plans in critical situations.

And so, according to sources from both bodies, extremely delicate situations are contemplated in terms of citizen security. On paper, State Security analysts point out that in the worst of cases, situations of "high intensity" street violence can occur. They contemplate the irruption of social protests in the streets against both Spanish and European political dynamics, which can strain coexistence to the maximum. And on this scenario, which they consider to be the last of the possible ones, designs are also being carried out of what the actions of intervention units, the specialists in shielding citizen security, would have to carry out.

In their plans they contemplate hotter areas of action, by geographical fields. Logically, the larger the population, the more risk. They do not rule out that in certain circumstances they would have to go to lend a hand to autonomous communities where the powers of citizen security are ceded. As sources close to these analysts explain, apocalyptic scenarios are contemplated.

Sanctions, the great tool

The state of alarm over the coronavirus pandemic came to an end with more than 9,000 detainees and almost 1.2 million sanctions, a hefty figure for an over-run administration that, according to experts, will have to work hard if it does not want that, at least those of a mild nature, prescribe.

During these months, skipping the confinement has led to sanction proposals that can lead to fines ranging from 600 euros for unauthorized movements to 10,400 for organizing or participating in group activities that pose a risk of contagion, according to a guide distributed by Interior the month of state of alarm.

It is Andalusia which accounts for the largest number of sanctions, with more than 194,000, ahead of Madrid , with 183,000.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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