FOUR-TIER SYSTEM: what new rules for the Valencian Community?

Spain’s emergency council of autonomous governments (CISNS) – presided over by the central Ministry of Health – approved the four-tier alert system to fight the COVID-19 second wave on Thursday.

Each of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities is now on one of the 4 levels in the system.

*UPDATE: the Valencian Community moved to level 3 ‘high’ alert on Tuesday 27th October. Read more here.

Despite having some of the lowest COVID-19 figures in Spain, Valencian Community president Ximo Puig on Thursday unilaterally announced a 00:00 to 06:00 curfew. Read about it here.

Read an overview of the alert levels and restrictions below:

*Epidemiological criteria for the alert levels can be found further down.

Alert levels

1. Bajo

• Residents recommended to stay within their autonomous community.
• Reunions of no more than 15 people.
• Business/ hospitality interiors must not exceed 75%, up to a maximum of 50 people. 10 people per table indoors; 15 people per table outdoors.
• Capacity must not exceed 75%, up to a maximum of 50 people indoors, for funerals. No limits for weddings and baptisms in the open air.
• Nightclubs closed.

2. Medio

• Remote working encouraged.
• Residents recommended to stay at home.
• Reunions of no more than 10 people.
• Business/ hospitality interiors must not exceed 50% capacity. Six people per table indoors and outdoors. Distances of 2m between tables obligatory.
• 50% capacity rules include: social centres, sport facilities and highstreet businesses.
• 75% capacity for theatres, cinemas, auditoriums and libraries.
• Customers are forbidden from drinking at the bar of a pub/ restaurant.
• Capacity must not exceed 50%, up to a maximum of 30 people indoors, for funerals. No limits for weddings and baptisms in the open air.

3. Alto

• Remote working encouraged.
• Residents recommended to stay at home. Governments will evaluate the closure of territorial borders.
• Reunions of no more than 6 people.
• Businesses recommended to close by 11pm for non-essential services.
• Hospitality businesses recommended to close – if not, the relevant health authority will announce drastically-reduced capacities.
• Capacity must not exceed 53%, up to a maximum of 10 people indoors, for funerals. Limits of 20 people for weddings and baptisms in the open air.

4. Extremo

• The document says ‘exception measures’ will be taken, based on the health situation. Curfews and territorial border closures expected.

Epidemiological criteria

The document approved yesterday is called ‘Actuaciones de respuesta coordinada para hacer frente a la pandemia por Covid-19’.

Every one of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities backed it in a special meeting with central Health Minister Salvador Illa yesterday – except Madrid and the Basque Country.

Part of the criteria is based on Accumulated Incidence (AI): cases per 100,000 inhabitants over either 7 days or 14 days.

Below, AI refers to cases over 14 days.

The four alerts are defined as:

• Level 1 (bajo). AI between 25-50 and between 20-50 for inhabitants aged 65+.
• Level 2 (medio). AI between 50-150 and between 50-100 for inhabitants aged 65+.
• Level 3 (alto) AI between 150-250 and between 100-150 for inhabitants aged 65+.
• Level 4 (extremo) AI between above 250 and above 150 for inhabitants aged 65+.

The Ministry of Health will also define alert levels by the percentage of positive PCR results in an autonomous community over 7 days.

The four alerts are defined as:

• Level 1 (bajo). 4-7% positive.
• Level 2 (medio). 7-10% positive.
• Level 3 (alto) 10-15% positive.
• Level 4 (extremo) 15%+ positive.

The Ministry of Health will also determine alert levels based on traceability of new infections.

I.e., the percentage determines what percentage of new COVID-19 infections come from traceable outbreaks.

The four alerts are defined as:

• Level 1 (bajo). 65-80% traceable.
• Level 2 (medio). 50-65% traceable.
• Level 3 (alto) 30-50% traceable.
• Level 4 (extremo) below 30% traceable.

The Ministry of Health will also look at percentage of available hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients – including in UCIs – for each autonomous region.

The four alerts are defined as:

• Level 1 (bajo). 5-10% UCI beds occupied.
• Level 2 (medio). 10-15% UCI beds occupied.
• Level 3 (alto) 15-25% UCI beds occupied.
• Level 4 (extremo) 25%+ UCI beds occupied.

More to follow..