News for expats on COVID-19 - update 18.05.2020

The Ministry of Health authorized last Friday, that from today the 18th of May most provinces and sanitary zones can pass to phase “1”. 
This means for the province of Alicante that the sanitary zones of Elche and Alicante will also pass to phase “1” and with that, one can drive through the entire province. People must be aware that one can NOT travel to the nearest provinces such as Murcia, Albacete or Valencia. All measures in the areas must continue with safety, hygiene and with their timetables to go out, because all of that is still in force.

Yesterday , the Prime Minister in his meeting with the regional Presidents talked about the possibility to eliminate the timetables to go out to practice certain activities in the villages/towns up to 10.000 inhabitants. The director of the Coordination of Alarm and Sanitary Emergencies informed that municipalities up to 10.000 inhabitants are in a very favorable situation.

The details of the new form for the use of mouthmasks in public spaces will also be announced in the coming days.

The streetmarkets can re-open, although only with food and basic products, but it will be every Townhall that decides how it will be done and in which opening hours.

One of the airports currently opened as an access point with capacity to ensure the public health emergency  is the Alicante-Elche airport. We remind you once again that the borders will remain closed until the 15th of June and one can only enter the country if Spaniards return or for people who can proof that their principal home is Spain.