As from Monday at 8am the Real Decree will be published on the Official State Bulletin and become law. All of Spain will be under State of alarm and must follow the laws set down by the decree.

I am going to give you a point by point breakdown of the Decree in a typical question in answer format. This is to simplify the 15-page document

Why has the State Of Alarm been declared?

The State of Alarm has been declared so Spain can deal most effectively with the outbreak of the Coronavirus Covid -19

Who is the competent Authority during the State of Alarm?

The Spanish government is the competent authority to carry out all the functions outlined in the decree. The following ministries will have their respective responsibilities:

• Ministry of Defence
• Ministry of Interior
• Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agendas
• Ministry for Health

The Defence Forces, autonomous and local police as well as the local governments will all come under direct orders from the ministry of interior when needed for the protection of the population, property and places.

How is movement limited?

During the validity of the State of Alarm, citizens will only be able to circulate along the roads for public use to carry out the following activities:

• Acquisition of food, pharmaceuticals and necessities.
• Assistance to health centres.
• Travel to the workplace to carry out their work, professional or business provision.
• Return to the place of habitual residence.
• Assistance and care for the elderly, minors, dependents, people with disabilities or especially vulnerable people.
• Displacement to financial entities
• Due to force majeure or need.
• Any other activity of an analogous nature duly justified.

Circulation is also permitted to go to petrol station to fill up.

Can I work from home?

The decree states that all employers where possible must provide means by which their employees can work from home.

What about schools and universities?

All classes of every type have been suspended until further notice and during this time educative activities will be carried out online where possible.

Will all the shops, bars and restaurants be closed?

All establishments which may be a focus of infection are to be closed. However, businesses or commercial establishments whose opening is permitted must be strictly necessary so that consumers can purchase food and basic necessities, the possibility of consuming products in the establishments themselves being suspended. In any case, crowds will be avoided, and consumers and employees will be controlled to maintain the safety distance of at least one meter in order to avoid possible contagion. Cafeterias and restaurants will be closed to the public, being able to exclusively provide home delivery services. 

Are all concerts/ festivals cancelled?

The opening to the public of the premises and establishments in which public shows take place, the cultural and artistic facilities and the sports and leisure activities are suspended. Cafeterias and restaurants will be closed to the public, being able to exclusively provide home delivery services. The festivals, parades and popular festivals are also suspended.

Can you still attend Mass, Weddings or Funerals?

Attendance at places of worship and civil and religious ceremonies, including funerals, are conditional on the adoption of organizational measures consisting of avoiding crowds, depending on the dimensions and characteristics of the places, in such a way as to guarantee attendees the possibility of respecting the distance between them of at least one metre.

Is the local Health Centre still open?

All health centres and workers will be under the direct orders of the Minister of Health as necessary for the protection of people, property and places, and may impose extraordinary services for their duration or nature. The Minister of Health reserves the exercise of all the powers that are necessary to guarantee cohesion and equity in the provision of said service. This measure will also guarantee the possibility of determining the best distribution in the territory of all technical and personal resources, in accordance with the needs that are revealed in the management of this health crisis. The delegated competent authorities shall exercise their powers to ensure that personnel and military health centres and establishments contribute to strengthening the national health system throughout the national territory. Likewise, the Minister of Health may exercise those powers that are necessary for these purposes with respect to private health centres.

Will the food supply chain be affected?

 The competent authorities shall take the necessary measures to guarantee:

• The food supply in the places of consumption and the operation of the services of the production centres, allowing the distribution of food from the origin to the commercial establishments for sale to the consumer, including warehouses, logistic centres and destination markets. In particular, when it is necessary for security reasons, the accompaniment of the vehicles that carry the mentioned goods may be agreed.
• When necessary, the establishment of sanitary corridors to allow the entry and exit of people, raw materials and processed products destined for or coming from establishments where food is produced, including farms, animal feed factories and slaughterhouses. Likewise, the competent authorities may agree on the intervention of companies or services, as well as the mobilization of the security forces and bodies of the State and the Armed Forces in order to ensure the proper functioning of the provisions of this article.

Can produce be imported?

The competent authorities shall adopt the necessary measures to guarantee customs transit at the points of entry or border inspection points located in ports or airports. In this regard, priority products will be addressed.

Will there be gas, electricity or petrol shortages?

The competent authority may adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the supply of electricity, petroleum products, as well as natural gas.