Spain – COVID-19 “new normality” scheduled for June

In Spain, the state of alarm has been extended until 24 May 2020, by resolution of 06 May 2020. Spain is immersed in a de-escalation process in order to return to what has been called a “new normality” that has in principle been scheduled for late June.

The de-escalation phases regarding return to work can be summarised as followed:

• In phase 0: teleworking obligatory. There are some provinces that are still in phase 0 since they do not meet the requirements established by the Ministry of Health in order to move on to phase I. This covers Madrid and the majority of Catalonia, with some exceptions.
• Phase 1, 2 and 3: teleworking is preferred. Conditions of security and health in prevention of labour risks, indicated by the Ministry of Health, will have to be implemented.

By Order SND/399/2020, of 09 May 2020, phase I:

• Teleworking encouraged for those workers who can carry out their work at a distance. In particular, measures must be taken to ensure that workers are separated for safety reasons, that shifts are organised and that fingerprints are replaced by another timekeeping system that guarantees appropriate hygiene measures.
• The mobility of citizens is made more flexible but movements between provinces are restricted to certain circumstances such as travel for performing your habitual job or health reasons.
• All retail establishments and business premises and professional service activities whose activity has been suspended following the declaration of the state of alert may be reopened to the public, with the exception of those having an area of more than 400 square meters, as well as those having the character of a shopping Centre or park. Most important reopening requirements constitute the following:
  • Total capacity of the commercial premises needs to be reduced to 30%.
  • A distance of two metres needs to be guaranteed.
  • Extra hygiene measures need to be respected, including the obligation to clean the premises at least twice a day.
• The open-air terraces of hotel and catering establishments may be reopened to the public, with a limit of 50% of the tables allowed in the immediately preceding year, on the basis of the corresponding municipal license. Extra hygiene measures regarding clients and employees need to be respected.
• All premises and establishments where cultural events and performances are held and whose activity has been suspended after the declaration of the state of alarm may be reopened to the public, provided that they do not exceed one third of the authorised capacity.
  • If performed indoors: no more than thirty people in total.
  • If performed outdoors: maximum capacity will be two hundred persons.
  • Extra hygiene measures need to be respected.
• Hotels and tourist lodgings that have been suspended from opening to the public by virtue of Order SND/257/2020 of 19 March 2020, declaring the suspension of the opening to the public of tourist lodging establishments, may be reopened with some exceptions: access to common areas.

Further details regarding return to work guidelines are available here.

See our coronavirus (COVID-19) feature for more information generally on the possible legal implications of COVID-19.