The Generalitat Valenciana has extended new restrictions, introduced in August, for another 21 days in an effort to curb coronavirus outbreaks in the region.
Limitations, which are extended from this week for three more weeks, are also now expanded to casinos, bingo halls and gambling establishments, which must close at one in the morning.
The president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Ximo Puig, made the announcement on Saturday, revealing an extension by a further 21 days of the latest safety measures. The restrictions for nightlife continue, the mandatory distance of 1.5 meters between tables on terraces and restaurants remains in place, as does the prohibition of smoking outdoors if there is not two meters of physical distance – these limitations are now also extended to gaming venues.
The extension comes into force the same week in which the school year officially begins in the Valencian community, which is scrambling to carry out PCR tests, at an average of 10,000 daily. The tests, which Puig says provide valuable information, are being carried out across the community but many of those tested complain of delays in obtaining results due to the heavy strain on healthcare infrastructure.
Puig was keen to reassure the public that the curve grows “very smoothly” and has ruled out any situation of “alarm”. He said, “The situation is under control and we must be constant in restrictive measures to speed up control of the pandemic.”
The extra restrictions, in place since August, extend to gambling casinos, bingo halls, game rooms, arcades and specific betting shops, which must close no later than one in the morning. The closing hours of hotels and catering establishments are maintained, also at one in the morning, as well as the recommendation to hold family or social gatherings of a maximum of 10 people, and limit visits to nursing homes to a single person.
Puig also indicated that this week the Valencian Community’s agreement to join the Radar Covid app will be formalised, a project which will be rolled out progressively as different technical and compatibility aspects are resolved. “This tool will help us in early detection tasks, which at the moment are basic: early detection for early care,” said Puig. Also this week, the 150 trackers from the Ministry of Defense will begin to help with contact tracing, which will reinforce Spain’s Primary Care services, which are currently overloaded.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has previously called on all citizens to download the Radar Covid app. Sánchez highlighted the importance of the tracking app Radar Covid in curbing the rising number of coronavirus cases in the country.
“Technology can also save lives if it is employed to face a challenge like the one we have before us. That’s why we have promoted the Radar Covid app,” Sánchez said at a press conference in August.
The app is already in use in the regions of Andalusia, Cantabria, Extremadura, Castilla y León and the Canary and Balearic Islands; and leaders say it is urgently needed across the rest of the country. “We urge the remaining regions who have not yet done so to incorporate the digital tracking system,” pleaded Sánchez, adding that “all citizens must download the application.”
Radar Covid has been available to download from app stores for several weeks now. The app uses a mobile phone’s Bluetooth capability to work as an automatic and anonymous contact tracer. When the phones of two Radar Covid users are next to each other for at least 15 minutes within a two-metre distance, a file is exchanged via bluetooth that is saved for 14 days. If a person tests positive for Covid-19, the doctor or contact tracer issues the patient with a random alphanumeric number. It is hoped that the patient would then introduce this number into the app voluntarily. Subsequently, all users who have been in close contact with the patient will receive an alert. The app revises these codes twice a day to check for updates. At no point is the identity of the patient revealed.
“According to the estimations we have, if more than 20% [of the population] downloads the app, it could reduce the impact of the pandemic by 30%,” claimed Sánchez.
This estimate is backed by a study from Oxford University which found that, for the app to be most effective, it must be downloaded by 60% of the population, but a lower percentage will also help curb contagion.