Andalusia has reported 544 cases in the last 24 hours. Malaga with 130 reported the most cases. While Almeria had the lowest on 26 and Huelva next 35.

Sadly, there were 56 more deaths declared today 19 more than yesterday. Since the pandemic began in Andalusia there have been 4,517 deaths to Covid.

Huelva has 106 patients in hospital with Covid of which 15 are in intensive care. There are currently 1,554 patients in Andalusian hospitals with Covid-19 of which 331 are in intensive care. The current average rate of Covid in Andalusia is 155 per 100,000 inhabitants.

This evening the President of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno, announced the measures that will be in place during the Christmas period. There will be two phases. The first phase from 12th Dec to 17th Dec inclusive and Phase 2 will be Friday 18th Dec until January 10th.

Phase 1 12th Dec to 17th Dec inclusive

• You are allowed to travel between municipalities in the same Province.
• Shops are allowed to stay open until 21.00
• Bars and restaurants will stay the same and must close by 6pm with takeaways permitted until 21.30 and home delivery until 23.30
• The curfew remains the same from 22.00 until 07.00

Phase 2 From 18th Dec until 10th January inclusive

• You are allowed to ravel between provinces in Andalusia
• Shops can open during their normal business hours.
• Bars and Restaurants can open from 08.00 to 18.00 and later from 20.00 until 22.30
• The curfew changes to 23.00 to 06.00

There are also a few exceptions to the rules:

Travel out of Andalusia is permitted from 23rd Dec until 6th January to visit family members.

The number of people allowed to meet in a household will be increased from 6 to 10 for the dates 24th, 25th & 31st December and January 1st.

The curfew will be from 1.30 am to 6am on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.

From 22nd Dec to 7th January residents in a nursing home will be allowed to return home as long as they have a negative PCR test.

Andalusia has seen the numbers drop from the highs of November of 577 per 100,000 to current levels of 155. And it is the drop in these numbers that has permitted the easing of restrictions during the Christmas period.