Update Cov19 Level

 The Governing Council of the Canary Islands has agreed this Thursday to maintain the alert levels for covid-19 in all the islands, except Fuerteventura, which drops from level 3 to level 2.

Thus, Tenerife and Gran Canaria continue at level 3, (red traffic light), Fuerteventura and Lanzarote at level 2 (orange traffic light) and La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro at level 1 (green traffic light).

"In Gran Canaria and Tenerife there is still worrying data, there is a line that we cannot reduce," said the Government spokesman, Julio Pérez, who has announced that a general review of the table of restrictive measures in force for each level based on experience and technical criteria.

Pérez recalled that this general table of measures, which was drawn up last June, includes 70 different measures and has pointed out that the experience in these months as well as the suggestions of the sectors will allow a "rereading" of them and decide the modification of some and the continuity of others.

Regarding the epidemiological situation of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, the government spokesman said that the seven-day incidence has been increasing in both islands and has alluded to other worrying parameters such as that it has increased, not only infections, but the occupation of ICUs Among other reasons, because the stay of patients in these areas has increased compared to the beginning of the pandemic.

Pérez has acknowledged that the Government of the Canary Islands is wondering if there will be any other more effective measure to reduce the trend of infections but has stressed that these same restrictions have worked at other times and now they have done so in Fuerteventura, which has allowed it to decrease of level.

However, the also Minister of Public Administrations has indicated that the effects of the vaccines "seem to begin to be visibly noticeable" given that contagions have been reduced between the groups already vaccinated with the two doses, which are groups 1 and 2.

"It is a relevant fact and without wanting to think that everything is resolved, it is a sign that the vaccine has positive effects," said Pérez, who has trusted that the same effect will occur in the following vaccination groups.

He has also detailed that the rate of vaccination has resumed and has specified that the problems in the delay caused with AstraZeneca, will be offset by the arrival of more Pfizer vaccines, although he did not know how to specify in what quantity.

Pérez recalled that in the Canary Islands between 16,000 and 17,000 people are being vaccinated a day although the estimates of the Canary Health Service is that if there are enough vaccines, that amount can be doubled.

He has also indicated that the figures for the use of doses in the Canary Islands are acceptable and has warned that the supply of vaccines in the national territory responds to the number of vulnerable people that exist in each community.

Mask wearing update 2nd April 2021

 The Government of the Canary Islands understands that the new regulations on the use of a mask in public spaces do not alter the exceptions approved in each autonomous community, which in the case of the islands protect whoever takes it off to sunbathe on the beach if they are in your towel and those around you are at a safe distance.

"The Canary Islands understand that the standards that it has used up to now are still covered by the new regulations" and "intensive use" is maintained in the application of the "new normal" law already in force that requires the use of the mask, even when the safety distance of 1.5 meters is maintained, said the spokesman for the regional Executive, Julio Pérez (PSOE).

However, he insisted, that general use of the mask does not cancel the exceptions set by the regional governments within their powers as health authorities in this pandemic.

In other words, the Canary Islands understand that in the case of beaches the rule by which it has been governed until now is still in force: the bather can remove the mask to enter the water, but also to sunbathe in a static place ( for example, your towel or lounger), as long as you can keep a safe distance.

"The Canarian regulations on the use of the mask is not a message of relaxation of use, people on the beach have the same obligation as until now, it is still mandatory," argued Pérez, who has once again asked citizens for responsibility in compliance with the rules against covid.

The law of urgent prevention, containment and coordination measures to face the health crisis caused by the covid was approved last Thursday by the plenary session of Congress, after the green light of the Senate, where an amendment was introduced -of the PSOE- that it established the mandatory nature of the mask even while maintaining the safety distance.

The text that reached the Senate and that was not previously modified in Congress established that people over six years of age are obliged to use the masks "on public roads, in open air spaces and in any closed space of public use or that is open to the public, as long as it is not possible to guarantee the maintenance of an interpersonal safety distance of at least 1.5 meters ".

With the amendment introduced in the Senate, the final part of the wording of the text regarding the safety distance was deleted, making the use of the mask mandatory even if that distance of 1.5 meters can be maintained.

However, the Government of the Canary Islands protects its interpretation of this law at the end of its article 6.2: "It will not be enforceable in the case of individual sport in the open air, nor in cases of force majeure or situation of necessity or when , by the very nature of the activities, the use of the mask is incompatible, in accordance with the indications of the health authorities ".

In his opinion, this mention of "the indications of the health authorities" keeps the exceptions issued by the Government of the Canary Islands in force.

And those exceptions to the mandatory use of the mask, in the regulations of the islands, are two:

1) In spaces of nature or outdoors outside population centers, as long as the influx of people allows maintaining an interpersonal safety distance of at least two meters.

2) On the beaches and swimming pools exclusively during bathing and while staying in a certain space, without moving, and provided that the respect of the interpersonal safety distance of at least two meters between all non-living users can be guaranteed.

The Canarian Executive spokesman has asked that "rigor be extreme in compliance with the measures now that the risk increases, there is more mobility, social life and family encounters" with Easter.

Likewise, Pérez has stated that "the vaccination process remains at very acceptable levels" and the figures "continue to be encouraging and only the speed of supplies darkens the prospects; if we had enough vaccines, we would achieve immunity soon."

It has also reported that the doses of Pfizer's vaccine scheduled for Monday are doubled and those of AstraZeneca are also increased next Friday

Fuerteventura Alert Level

 The fact that Fuerteventura goes to level three or red traffic light today, Monday has consequences . For example, the permanence of groups of people, both in public and private spaces, becomes a maximum of four individuals, except in the case that they are living together, two less than with level two.

One of the measures set by the autonomous community with the greatest impact - consult the full document here - is that with alert level three "the exit and entry of people is restricted" to the island, "except for justified displacements", as reasons professionals, assistance to medical or educational centers.

However, the Minister of Health, Blas Trujillo, announced this Thursday that, for Easter, between March 26 and April 9, mobility between islands is restricted, except for the stipulated exceptions . In order to move beyond the exceptions, a negative diagnostic test will be required.

The curfew with the red traffic light is generally between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., one hour less than with alert level two.

As for the hospitality industry, the most prominent measure is that they have to close the interior of the establishments, while the outdoor terraces have to limit their capacity to 50 percent, with four people per table.

Thus, bar consumption becomes prohibited, which with level two could be in groups of two people, and the complete closure of the establishment must take place before 10 pm.

In commercial establishments the maximum capacity is 33 percent inside the premises, and the use of recreational or children's areas is prohibited, "unless disinfection can be guaranteed after each use."

The markets that are held periodically have their capacity limited to 33 percent indoors and 50 percent outdoors (previously it was 50 and 75 percent, respectively).

Community Suggestion Box

A suggestion and complaints box has been installed next to the 'employees' room, in garage A so that all owners who wish to, can express themselves on Community issues. 

Fuerteventura CV19 Level

 Fuerteventura goes to alert level 2 before the evolution of its pandemic data

• The Government establishes a curfew on the island between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

Traffic light updated this Thursday by the Government 

The Ministry of Health has agreed this Thursday, March 4, after analyzing the evolution of the indicators to raise the island of Fuerteventura from level 1 to level 2 and keep the rest of the islands at the same alert level as they were. In this way, Lanzarote and La Graciosa continue at alert level 3; Tenerife and Gran Canaria at alert level 2; and El Hierro, La Palma and La Gomera at alert level 1.

That decision is based on the report issued by the General Directorate of Public Health of the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS) this Thursday.

It should be remembered that since last Tuesday, March 2, the update of the prevention measures established by the Government Agreement of June 19, 2020, to face the health crisis caused by COVID-19, has been in force, once the Phase III of the Plan for the transition towards a new normality, as well as the determination of health alert levels (published in BOC No. 42, of March 2).

Alert level 2 (Fuerteventura, Tenerife and Gran Canaria)

Limitation of the freedom of movement of people at night. The freedom of movement of people is limited at night from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. every day.

Capacity between non-cohabitants in public and private spaces. The permanence of groups of people is limited to a maximum of 6, except in the case of cohabitants. If the group includes both cohabiting and non-cohabiting people, it will not exceed 6 people.

Measures for the hotel and catering business, restaurants and terraces, bars and cafes. You may not exceed 75% of the authorized capacity in outdoor terraces and 50% in indoor spaces. The maximum occupancy per table or group of tables will be 6 people outdoors, 4 indoors and 2 for the group of customers at the bar. The buffet or self-service service cannot be provided indoors. The complete closure of the establishments is established before 23:00.

Sport practice. For collective activities in the interior areas of sports facilities and centers where it is not possible to maintain a safety distance of 2 meters permanently, a maximum number of 6 people per group is allowed, including the monitor. In addition, a safety distance of 2 m between the different groups will be guaranteed at all times. 50% of the capacity will not be exceeded for each of the rooms and sports centers.

Sports are allowed outdoors in groups of maximum 6 people, including a monitor, if the interpersonal safety distance of 2 meters cannot be maintained permanently. 75% of the sports capacity will not be exceeded in each of the sports spaces and centers. Non-professional federated sports activity is allowed in modalities with more than 10 people to exceed the maximum necessary exclusively for the development of the activity.

Public transport. In the regular public urban and metropolitan land passenger transport, its capacity is reduced to 50%. Surveillance of urban land transportation will be reinforced at peak times to avoid crowds. At peak times, avoid using public transport for non-essential or postponed trips.

Hospital centers and health care centers. In hospital centers, external visits are limited, remaining under the supervision of the center. In addition, the use of FFP2-type masks and face shields is recommended by personnel who have direct care with patients in these centers, as well as reinforcing ventilation

CAAF in the Media

 The new modules of the Gran Tarajal desalination plant generate annoying noises to the neighbors

• The mayor of Tuineje and the councilor of Aguas del Cabildo visit the facilities and the island body undertakes to seek solutions

Carlos Rodríguez, Tomás Torres and Esther Hernández.

Diario de Fuerteventura 0 COMMENTS 01/25/2021 - 18:49

A few months ago, the desalination plant of the Consorcio de Abastecimiento de Aguas a Fuerteventura (CAAF) in Gran Tarajal saw its production capacity strengthened by the urgent incorporation of machinery that allowed it to face imminently supply problems in the south of the island .

However, this is causing inconvenience to residents of the area due to "the significant noise generated by these equipment." The mayor of Tuineje, Esther Hernández, together with the councilor of Waters of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura, Carlos Rodríguez, and the councilor of Waters, Tomás Torres, have visited the desalination plant of the Consortium.

The island councilor has announced that "the new water production modules will be installed inside the plant to reduce the current noise level."

"We must bear in mind that we are facing a facility collected within the water emergency that we declared to tackle the problems of water supply in the south of the island", Carlos Rodríguez clarifies.

For her part, the mayor of Tuineje thanked "the counselor's willingness to reconcile guaranteeing the water supply with minimizing the inconvenience to the neighbors around this plant.

Hernández also highlighted "the important effort made by the Cabildo and the CAAF in improving the water supply, with the replacement of the transport network to Tiscamanita."

For the Water Councilor of the Tuineje City Council, Tomás Torres, "ending the problem of water supply in the municipality, something that we have been suffering for years, has been a priority and a claim that this City Council has continuously and repeatedly brought to the CAAF ".

More than double the production

The Gran Tarajal desalination plant went from producing around 2,000 cubic meters per day to now standing at just over 5,000, "which, together with the replacement of transport networks, such as the one that goes to the Tiscamanita deposit, in addition to the sealing and cleaning that we have done in all the storage tanks; it allows us to advance towards the guarantee of water supply in the south of Fuerteventura "

CAAF Petition

 Marianne, the VM secretary, is currently collecting names for a petition agaist the noise polution coming from CAAF water plant. If anyone wants to add their name to it, please get in touch with her or Fimax and let her know! 

AGM

 Just to let everyone know, the VM Annual General Meeting has been postponed until further notice, due to the CV19 limitations. 

New CV19 Rules

 The Tuineje City Council has also decreed this Monday, like the La Oliva City Council, a series of exceptional measures under the report of recommendations on additional restriction measures for the Fuerteventura Health Area in the face of the current epidemiological situation derived from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The measures are adopted "in accordance with the provisions of the agreement approving temporary specific measures in the area of ​​the autonomous community of the Canary Islands to face the health crisis, published in the BOC on January 9".

The measures have been decreed by the mayor Esther Hernández effectively from Monday, January 11, until next Monday, January 25, with the aim of stopping the contagion curve that the municipality of Tuineje has experienced in recent days.

Hernández has asked the population for an exercise of "individual responsibility and collective effort for the next fifteen days to regain normalcy in the municipality and stabilize the level of infections."

The decree of the mayor contemplates limitation of the freedom of movement of people at night between 10 pm and 6 am, except for essential activities.

The permanence of people both in spaces for public and private use, closed or outdoors, will be limited to cohabiting people, except in hotels and restaurants and respecting the maximum number of four users per table.

The hotel and catering establishments are also closed to the public before 10 pm, excluding cafeterias and restaurants in work centers for the exclusive use of workers.

Likewise, the number of diners per table will be four people and the service in interior areas is prohibited, excluding health centers, work centers for the use of their staff and those of tourist accommodation for the exclusive use of guests under the regime of accommodation.

Gambling casinos, bingo halls, arcades and games rooms, external betting venues and other similar venues will remain closed.

The practice of non-professional physical and sports activity is allowed in the interior areas of sports facilities and centers, with strict compliance with the usual security measures in the face of COVID-19, being prohibited the public attendance to them.

The practice of non-professional sports activity and physical exercise in the open air can be carried out individually and as long as the interpersonal safety distance of two meters can be maintained permanently.

Team sports or those practices or exercises in which the maintenance of said distance cannot be guaranteed at all times may not be practiced.

In the regular urban and metropolitan public land transport of passengers its capacity is reduced to 50 percent.

In addition, the closure of cultural centers and library is also established.

Water

 Anyone who read a post yesterday regarding Water please note that this message has now been cancelled. 

UK Driving Licence for Fuerteventura

 I am sure most of you have already changed your UK driving licenses to a Spanish one. If this is your case, then this  message is irrelevant. But if you still have your UK license and it is your intention to keep living and driving in this country then it is very important that you do the following;

Sometime before December 30th 2020 you must do an online application on the Spanish Tráfico website ( DGT) to either exchange ( if license is still valid) or renew ( in case your UK license has expired). Once this application is done, if you do not receive  a negative reply within 3 days saying the UK authorities have denied the exchange or renewal ( very unlikely unless your license is forged or you are a terrible driver), then you can book an appointment at Tráfico Offices in Puerto del Rosario anytime from 3 days after application to June 30th 2021. This is the appointment where you have to pass the sight and reflexes test, and then you present all the paperwork and you receive the new license about 40 days later.

The Spanish Tráfico Authorities strongly suggest British Nationals to do this and minimize the possible effects of a no-deal Brexit. The reason for this is that a no-deal Brexit will mean your UK licenses will have "third country" consideration, so you will be allowed to drive in Spain only for 6 months after Dec 31st 2020, and then if you want to keep driving, you will have to pass the Spanish Driving Exam,

Garage Barriers

 Due to the current weather we are having, some people are having problems entering garages with their vehicles. The maintenance staff have said you need to clean the receiver for the remote control and it then works. If the problem persists the barrier will be left open until the weather settles! 

Cov19 Testing

 From the 14th November everyone coming to Fuerteventura must show a  negative PCR at the airport to  enter. 

It's the same for visitors to hotels, holidays houses, rurals houses too etc. 

If they do not have this PCR then they can't enter anywhere.