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Labor, Covid Measures, 20/10/20

New measures to stop the increase in COVID-19 cases in Catalonia

The Official Gazette of Catalonia (DOGC) of October 16th published RESOLUTION SLT/2546/2020, of October 15th, which adopts new public health measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Catalonia. This resolution establishes the need to implement stricter measures throughout the territory to reduce social interactions, both in public and private spaces, and to restrict mobility in order to control the infection curve.

We inform you that RESOLUTION SLT/2546/2020, of October 15, has been published in the DOGC of October 16, adopting new public health measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Catalonia. This resolution establishes the need to implement stricter measures throughout the territory to reduce social interactions in both public and private spaces and restrict mobility in order to control the infection curve. These measures came into effect on October 16, 2020.

These measures, while this Resolution or, where applicable, the resolution establishing the extension, remains in force, supersede, in all aspects that conflict with them, those established in Resolution SLT/1429/2020, of June 18, which adopts basic protection and organizational measures to prevent the risk of transmission and promote the containment of SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as those established in section 4 of Resolution SLT/2073/2020, of August 17, which adopts extraordinary measures in the territory of Catalonia for the application of the Agreement of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System of August 14, 2020, on the declaration of coordinated actions in public health for the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic, modified by Resolution SLT/2782/2020, of August 19.

Likewise, any specific restrictive measures in force in lower territorial areas are rendered ineffective in all aspects where they conflict.

These measures are understood without prejudice to the validity of others and, specifically, Resolution SLT/2056/2020, of August 11, which extends the special measures in public health related to the consumption of alcoholic beverages for the containment of the epidemic outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The measures contained in this Resolution are applicable to all persons who are in and circulate in Catalonia, as well as to persons who own any economic, business or establishment for public use or open to the public located in this territorial area.

Below we summarize these measures.

See summary table of measures

1. Meetings, gatherings and travel

Social activity and travel outside the home should be reduced as much as possible. Social contact should be limited to bubble groups, that is, groups of people who interact with each other, creating a space of trust and security.

Household bubble: A group of people who live together under the same roof. This may also include caregivers and/or support staff to prevent social isolation.
Extended bubble: Group of people from the cohabitation bubble plus one or more other limited and stable groups of people, always the same, with whom the cohabitation bubble establishes family, work, school and leisure relationships.

Meetings and gatherings of more than 6 people are prohibited, unless they are cohabitants, both in private and public settings.
In gatherings of up to 6 people in public spaces, the consumption of food and drinks is not permitted.
The following are not considered to be included in this prohibition, provided they comply with the safety guidelines approved by PROCICAT:

Work activities.
Teaching activities.
Children's and youth leisure activities (including extracurricular activities).
Socio-educational intervention activities (socio-educational intervention services and open centers).
Worship activities and religious acts.
Public transportation.
School transport.
Cultural activities, performing arts and music, cinema or exhibitions.
Sports activities.
The opening of libraries, archives, museums and monuments.

People with Covid-19 symptoms or who are in isolation or quarantine cannot participate in meetings and/or gatherings.
Protective measures must be maintained and intensified: mask, distance and hand washing

2. Prevention and hygiene measures in workplaces

Without prejudice to compliance with occupational risk prevention regulations and other applicable labor regulations, the owners of public and private workplaces must adopt, among others, the following measures:

a) Promote organizational and technical measures that allow limiting the mobility of workers as much as possible, prioritizing remote work, teleworking, teleconference meetings, or other measures when mobility is essential, such as staggered entry and exit times, flexible hours, or similar.

b) When prioritizing remote work is not possible, organizational measures must be adopted regarding working conditions to ensure the maintenance of the minimum interpersonal safety distance. When this is not possible, workers must be provided with personal protective equipment appropriate to the level of risk.

c) Adopt cleaning and disinfection measures appropriate to the characteristics of the workplaces and intensity of use, as well as guarantee the ventilation of spaces and buildings, in accordance with the protocols established in each case by the health authorities, and especially, of the common areas of the workplaces, restricting or staggering their use to avoid crowds, intensifying the cleaning of surfaces, establishing that in rest areas they allow distancing between people or establishing separate entrance and exit areas, among others.

d) Make available to workers water and soap, or hydroalcoholic gels or disinfectants with authorized virucidal activity, for hand cleaning.

e) The use of face masks is mandatory in the workplace when the workspace is for public use or open to the public, in accordance with Resolution SLT/1648/2020, of July 8, which establishes new measures for the use of face masks to contain the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, or when moving around the workplace. In the case of workspaces closed to the public, once the employee is at their workstation and performing tasks that do not involve movement, the use of a face mask will not be mandatory, without prejudice to any specific recommendations that may be adopted by the company's occupational health and safety services.

f) Take measures to avoid the mass coincidence of people, both workers and customers or users, during the times when the greatest influx is expected.

3. Service and retail companies

Businesses cannot offer services that involve close personal contact, unless it is an essential, healthcare, or social care service. Hairdressing servicesand may only offer services related to hair hygiene.

The provision of services must be done, as far as possible, without physical contact with customers.

The opening to the public of retail establishments and premises with a usable exhibition and sales area of more than 400 square meters is conditional upon establishing real-time access and capacity control systems, either through personnel or remote control means, as well as the definition of regulated mobility circuits and flows, and restricting access to fitting rooms to a maximum of one person per booth.

Shopping centers, malls, and commercial complexes must implement capacity and flow control systems, as previously described, in the establishments and premises located there, as well as at the entrances to the shopping centers, malls, or commercial complexes themselves. Access to and use of recreational areas, such as children's play areas, playrooms, and rest areas, will be restricted.

In any case, retail establishments and premises must comply with the following requirements:

a) The total capacity permitted by the business license or authorization must be reduced to 30%, except for retail establishments selling food, beverages, hygiene products, other essential goods, pharmacies, orthopedics stores, opticians, and veterinary centers, which must reduce their total permitted capacity to 50%. In the case of establishments spread over several floors, the number of customers on each floor must maintain this same proportion. The same capacity reduction applies to common areas and passageways in shopping centers, malls, or commercial complexes. In any case, a minimum distance of 1.5 meters between customers must be guaranteed. In commercial premises where it is not possible to maintain this distance, only one customer will be allowed inside the premises at a time.

b) Collection systems may be established for products purchased by telephone or via the internet, provided they guarantee staggered collection to avoid crowding inside the premises or at the entrance, as well as home delivery systems. Where possible, delivery will avoid direct contact with the customer by collecting from the door or car, including prepared food.

c) These establishments must rigorously apply the hygiene, prevention and safety measures established to deal with COVID-19 in the Sectoral Trade Plan, approved by the Governing bodies of the PROCICAT Action Plan.

4. Hospitality and catering activities

Restaurant services are suspended in all types of premises and establishments, which may only operate through delivery or collection services by appointment. Restaurants in hotels and other tourist accommodations are excluded from this suspension and may remain open provided they are for the exclusive use of their guests, without prejudice to also offering delivery or collection services by appointment. Also excluded from this suspension are catering services integrated into healthcare, social care, and social services centers and facilities, including children's and youth leisure activities, school cafeterias, and social dining services.

In hotel establishments, the capacity of common areas is limited to 50% of the authorized capacity, which will be identified on visible signs.

5. Congresses, Conventions, Trade Fairs and Major Festivals

The in-person celebration of congresses, conventions, trade fairs and major festivals is suspended.

Non-sedentary markets can maintain their activity subject to a reduction to 30% of the maximum capacity of the premises and compliance with the measures provided for in the corresponding sector plan approved by the Steering Committee of the PROCICAT Action Plan.

6. Religious acts and civil ceremonies

Religious acts and civil ceremonies, including weddings, religious services, and funeral ceremonies, must limit attendance to 50% of capacity.

7. Use of public transport

Public transport must maintain its full service even if demand decreases. Reductions are only permitted during nighttime hours. Peak-hour service must be maintained between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekdays.

Public transport users must refrain from activities that involve removing their mask, such as eating.

Public transport operators with stations located in enclosed spaces will provide hand sanitizer dispensers.

Following common criteria established by public transport authorities, operators will use their means of communication to clearly inform users of the self-protection guidelines they must follow.

8. Cultural activities

In performing arts and musical shows, cinema or exhibitions:

Capacity is reduced to 50%, both indoors and outdoors.
Seats must be pre-assigned.
A record of attendees must be kept.
The closing time is set at 23:00h.

Libraries, archives, museums and monuments remain open subject to the measures of the sector plans approved by PROCICAT.

9. Sports activities

Sports facilities and equipment may be used provided that capacity does not exceed 50%, access is controlled, and the guidelines of the sector-specific plans approved by the Steering Committee of the PROCICAT Action Plan are followed. The use of unsupervised sports equipment is prohibited. These prohibitions do not apply to sports facilities and equipment intended for technical training and performance development.

All sporting competitions scheduled to take place in Catalonia during the period of validity of this Resolution are postponed, with the exception of official state, international and professional competitions.

10. Recreational and leisure activities

Public parks and gardens and children's play areas can be used until 8:00 p.m.
The following closures are established:
- amusement parks and fairs
- children's play centers
- gaming rooms, casinos and bingo halls
The main festivities are suspended.
Group civic and community activities are suspended - such as, for example, those at civic facilities that involve in-person attendance, unless they are done by telematic means.

11. Teaching activities, children's and youth leisure activities (including extracurricular activities) and socio-educational intervention activities (socio-educational intervention services and open centers)

Teaching activities, children's and youth leisure activities (including extracurricular activities) and socio-educational intervention activities (socio-educational intervention services and open centers), including school transport, must be carried out in accordance with the corresponding sectoral plans approved by the Steering Committee of the PROCICAT Action Plan and the related regulations, rigorously applying the health prevention and protection measures.

12. University teaching activities

Within the Catalan universities, and in accordance with the agreement adopted by the Inter-University Council of Catalonia on October 13, 2020, in-person lectures will be delivered virtually. All other activities will continue, with strict adherence to safety measures. The presence of teaching, administrative, and support staff will be adjusted to the specific needs determined by each university.

13. Inspection and sanctioning regime

The municipalities and the Administration of the Generalitat of Catalonia, within the scope of their powers, are responsible for the functions of monitoring, inspection and control of the measures established in this Resolution.

Failure to comply with the measures set out in this Resolution is subject to a sanctioning regime in accordance with Decree Law 30/2020, of August 4, which establishes the specific sanctioning regime for non-compliance with the health prevention and containment measures to deal with the health crisis caused by COVID-19.

14. Police coordination and monitoring measures

In order to monitor and evaluate, both quantitatively and qualitatively, the measures adopted within the framework of current resolutions, as well as any relevant incidents that may occur, and in accordance with the functions and organization foreseen by the Order Group of the PROCICAT Action Plan for emerging diseases, the Local Police of Catalonia will submit a daily report with the most important developments and updated indicators to the PG-ME telematic channel for monitoring the SARS-COVID-2 pandemic:

Number of police officers affected by COVID
Number of people identified
Number of acts of denunciation against persons
Number of reported incidents at premises
Number of closed premises
Any other relevant incidents

At the local level, and without prejudice to the communications of the deputy general directorate for coordination of local police of the Directorate General of Security Administration, the operational coordination of police deployments will be carried out between the commanders of the local police and the territorial commanders of the Basic Police Areas (ABP).

15. Periodic reports and duration

Periodic reports on the effects of the measures must be issued.

The duration of the measures is set at a period of 15 days.

16. Entry into force

This Resolution enters into force on the date of publication in the DOGC, with the exception of sections 4, 6 with respect to the provisions affecting religious acts and 12, whose entry into force is conditional upon prior authorization by the High Court of Justice of Catalonia issued under article 10.8 of Law 29/1998, of July 13, regulating the Contentious Administrative Jurisdiction.

Until section 4 of this Resolution comes into force, Resolution SLT/2480/2020, of October 8, which extends the special measures in the field of public health for the containment of the epidemic outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the territory of Catalonia, remains in force.