EXPLAINED: What can and can’t be done in municipalities in Spain’s Andalucia with border closures

A TOTAL of 449 Andalucian municipalities will be closed from October 30 to November 9 as announced this Wednesday by the President of the Junta, Juanma Moreno.

The vast majority are concentrated in Sevilla, Granada and Jaen, as these three provinces will be completely closed for the next ten days, but there are also other towns affected in health districts of Malaga, Cordoba and Cadiz.

With hefty fines of between €60 and €60,000 handed out to those who break the rules.

So what is and is not permitted during border closure?

• You can walk around, go shopping or go to a restaurant in the town without having to prove anything other than your home address.
• You can cross the municipal boundary for work or study reasons, or in certain cases of force majeure, such as caring for a dependent. In each scenario documentation that accredits the activity and justifies the trip will be required.

Can I go shopping in a shopping centre in the metropolitan area?

• If the commercial establishment in question is located close to you, but is technically located in another municipal area, then NO and you will be liable to penalties.

Can I go to dinner at a restaurant in another municipality?

• NO. Going to a recreational establishment in another municipality is not contemplated under any circumstances.

Curfew:

• Establishments may remain open until 10.30 p.m.
• In Andalucia the curfew announced by Pedro Sanchez last Sunday remains unchanged and comes into force from 11pm to 6am.

Exceptions for entering or leaving Andalucia during the All Saints’ Day holiday.

After the perimeter closure of the Andalucian community, travel is only permitted in justified cases as set out in the Spanish Official Gazette (BOE).

Among the exceptions published by in the BOE are health and education assistance, as well as compliance with labour, institutional and legal obligations.

Also included are return to the place of habitual residence, assistance and care for vulnerable people and travel to financial institutions.

Administrative procedures that cannot be postponed are also included in the list of justified cases, as well as carrying out examinations that cannot be postponed.

Required or urgent actions before public, judicial or notarial bodies are also justified.

Likewise, it will be possible to enter or leave the Andalucian Community due to force majeure or a situation of necessity.

All movement into and from Andalucia will need to be accredited.