10
May 2020
1

COVID-19: Enter Phase One of De-escalation

Yesterday, the Health Minister, Salvador Illa Roca signed off on Order SND 399/2020, 9th May to bring certain

COVID-19: Enter Phase One of De-escalation

COVID-19 , , , , , , , , , , , , Sabrina L. Williams

Yesterday, the Health Minister, Salvador Illa Roca signed off on Order SND 399/2020, 9th May to bring certain parts of Spanish territory into Phase One of the gradual de-escalation process to a “new normality”. The islands of La Gomera, El Hierro, La Graciosa and Formentera already belong to the Phase One Club and have been enjoying fewer restrictions for a week now. What are the new rules for this second phase out the four outlined by the government?

The good news is that most retail premises and offices may reopen as well as hotels and tourist accommodation, of course under strict guidelines. We’ll get to the “not-so-good” part later. I’m not going to cover all aspects of the Order, so I have as always put in a link above to the original text so you can do your own research.

OBJECT: This Order applies to those activities that have been detailed therein and in the territorios included in the Addendum. Those who may be particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 are also permitted to these new freedoms as long as their condition is under control, however, anybody who has been diagnosed with the virus or those who are self-isolating at home due to having come into contact with somebody with symptoms or an official COVID-19 diagnosis ARE NOT PERMITTED to participate.

MOVEMENT AND SOCIAL DISTANCING: We are permitted to travel around or province, island or within established territorial boundaries of reference to the de-escalation process, but this does not include exceptions that may see people travel to other parts of national territory for health or professional reasons, to return to their place of residency, to care for an elderly or dependent family member or for situations deemed necessary.

In any case, we must always respect hygiene protocols as well as maintain the mínimum safety distance of two metres between people, or in its defect, ensure protection such as the use of face masks, gloves and sanitizers. Only a maximum of TEN people are allowed to meet under these conditions, except in the case of people who live together.

GENERAL MEASURES IN THE WORKPLACE: Many of you have anticipated this moment for a long time and I imagine you’ve spent the last few days getting ready, so it is important to read through requirements, conditions and new protocols to put into place before you open doors, if the Order allows it, although the Work From Home option is still preferred where possible. This Order is applicable to those retail establishments and premises where services are provided, as long as the premises are equal or inferior to 400m2. The only exception to this rule are those premises located within commercial centres without direct and independent access to their particular unit from the exterior.

So that I don’t repeat myself, the same health and safety measures listed in my previous article apply for the most part (cleaning and disinfection, safety distance, security measures, sample products, serving customers…), so see that link but the premises must be cleaned and disinfected at least twice a day, paying special attention to the most-used surfaces, and then take these other points into consideration. Where the use of public bathrooms is permitted by customers, only ONE person may enter at a time unless they require assistance. The bathrooms must be cleaned and disinfected at least six times a day. Regarding payment, the use of cards is preferrable over handling cash, but the card machines must be cleaned and disinfected after each use as well as the till equipment used by employees if it is not always used by the same person.

The busines owner is responible for implementing the necessary adjustments to the work space, distribution of the shop or office, shifts etc., to maintain health and safety protocols, to ensure that not all employees arrive and enter the premises at the same time and to prevent crowds of customers.

REOPENING OF RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS AND OFFICES: As mentioned, these activities that were suspended due to the State of Emergency may reopen as long as the main shop or office floor is equal or inferior to 400m2, excluding those located within a commercial centre and does not have direct and independent access to the unit from the exterior as long as the following criteria is met. Note also, this does not apply to those retail establishments and offices that were allowed to remain open:

  • Occupancy must be reduced to 30%. If the shop or office floor is distributed over various floors, the presence of customers on each one must be limited to the same proportion. In any case, the minimum two metre safety distance applies and if this is not possible, only one customer can be admitted at a time
  • Priority service hours for over 65s
  • Car Dealerships, ITV Stations and Garden Centres may reopen to the public regardless of size, using an appointment system
  • All business activities that can reopen under this Order can establish a pick-up point whereby customers may phone in or place an order online and collect it at the premises. This must be staggered so that various customers do not arrive at the same time
  • A home delivery service may be implemented especially for more vulnerable collectives
  • Town Halls may allow open-air markets or non-stationary street vendors (ice cream vans for example) to reopen. Preference will be given to those markets that sell food products as long as the items cannot be handled by customers. The Town Halls must establish requirements for spacing between stalls and whether the normal market area can be extended to cater for new protocols. This is mainly because it will be limited to 25% of the usual stalls and only a third of normal capacity
  • Autoservice, vending machines, self-service laundries etc., must maintain strict hygiene conditions and advise users of the correct use of the equipment by means of signs. In any case, the same hygiene protocols described previously apply
  • Signs must be displayed to indicate maximum occupancy and the safety distance of two metres
  • If a premise has more than one door, ideally, they should be used in a particular way; one (or more) for entering and one (or more) for exiting with clear signs to that effect
  • If there is a parking barrier, ideally this should be left open to avoid contact, but if this is not possible, the security guard should ensure correct use

REOPENING OF HOTEL AND RESTAURANT TERRACES: These establishments may also reopen under this Order according to the following requirements:

  • Open-air terraces that must be limited to 50% of the number of tables permitted in relation to the previous year (in the Canary Islands this is determined on the Registration document issued by the Canarian Tourist Board)
  • In this regard, we must define an “open-air terrace”. According to the Order, this refers to all uncovered areas, or when covered, the area is bordered laterally by a maximum of TWO walls or sufaces
  • In any case, the business owner must ensure a physical distance of at least two metres between tables or groups of tables and that a maximum of ten people per table or group of tables is strictly adhered to (respecting of course the safety distance between them unless they are ALL from the same household)
  • The Order allows for the local Town Hall to authorize extending the normal terrace area. This would allow those businesses who perhaps do not meet the open-air definition to reopen or to increase the number of permitted tables
  • Terrace equipment must be cleaned and disinfected between each use from one set of customers to another, paying special attention to tables, chairs and other contact surface areas
  • Single use tablecloths are preferred, but if this is not possible, they must be replaced between each customer and washed at between 60º and 90º
  • Hand gel sanitizer dispensers must be made available to customers and placed and the entrance of the premises. These must be maintained in hygienic and working order at all times
  • The use of menus must be replaced by electronic displays, boards, signs and similar methods to prevent unnecessary contact
  • Self-service products such as servillete holders, tooth picks, salt and pepper shakers, oil and vinegar dispensers etc., must be removed from tables, using single use packets instead. If required, the customer may request use of other methods (asking for the product to be applied to the dish by staff for example)
  • The silverware, plates, glasses, tablecloths etc., must be stored in closed cupboards, and if this were not possible, in a place that is not frequently transited by customers and employees (avoiding hallways to the bathroom and kitchen for example)
  • Bathroom facilities must be used, cleaned and disinfected as previously described

REOPENING OF HOTELS AND TOURIST ESTABLISHMENTS: Those establishments whose activity was suspended may reopen under the following conditions:

  • Generally speaking, restaurant/ cafeteria services within the premises must adhere to the conditions detailed under that section, although only for customers who are staying there and must not be provided in communal areas as these must remain closed
  • The use of swimming pools, spas, gyms, miniclubs, playgrounds (to include ball parks and similar), discos, event halls and all areas that are not indispensable for the accommodation service is not permitted. These areas must be clearly signposted
  • Bathroom facilities must be used, cleaned and disinfected as described above
  • Clear signs must be displayed throughout the premises in the most appropriate languages to indicate the restrictive use of the installations, new protocols to be observed to provent contagion etc
  • The reception area must guarantee safety distances between employees and guests, or protective equipment must be used
  • Objects and surfaces must be disinfected after each use of a guest or between employees if shared. Hand sanitizer must be readily available to guests
  • Prior to reopening, the entire establishment must be cleaned and disinfected
  • Once open, the most frequently used objects and surfaces that come into contact by different people (buttons in lifts and vending machines, banisters, railings, door handles, bells, taps…) must be cleaned and disinfected at least every two hours
  • Guests must be advised of new protocols and restrictions regarding use of the installations PRIOR to confirming a booking. This must be done in writing in a language the guest can comprehend

OTHER APPROVED ACTIVITIES (conditions obviously apply):

  • Social Services
  • Educational Centres and Universities
  • Scientific Research
  • Libraries
  • Museums
  • Filmmaking
  • Cultural Events
  • Professional Sports
  • Active Tourism and Nature Activities

Fulfilment of requirements of these new measures are responsibility of Municipal Inspection and Police Forces within their jurisdiction. Businesses are not permitted to take any commercial action that may result in crowds of customers within the premises or waiting outside. This does not prevent sales from taking place or offers advertised online, it is a precaution.

There was a lot of speculation about whether the remaining Canary Islands would advance from Phase Zero to Phase One due to the condition about the number of available beds at each hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, however, the Addendum of this Order states all eight islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa) are included.

This Order comes into effect from midnight 11th May 2020, and will remain so until the end of the State of Emergency and any of its extensions. One question that I am sure has already crossed your minds has to do outside tourism, especially those who are in the restaurant and hotel industries, and I’m preparing another article about that.

The other question that has probably arisen is about permittible hours to carry out individual sports activities… I can only conclude that since nothing specific is mentioned within this Order, that the hours established for Phase Zero are still in effect until we’re told otherwise. One change that can be implemented by Autonomic Authorities is when children are able to go outside with their parents as some regions said that climate is a major factor. These hours may be amended to up to two hours earlier or two hours later than stipulated, but any change here will affect the hours for adults and above 70s and dependents as well.

I expect further information about this transtion to Phase One will become available in the upcoming days to resolve any doubts.

03
May 2020
4

COVID-19: Reopening of Retail Establishments, Service Providers and the Hospitality and Restaurant Sector

The Cabinet approved last Tuesday 28th April 2020 a transitional plan to a “new normal”, which will establish

COVID-19: Reopening of Retail Establishments, Service Providers and the Hospitality and Restaurant Sector

Business Owners, COVID-19 , , , , , , , , , , , , , Sabrina L. Williams

The Cabinet approved last Tuesday 28th April 2020 a transitional plan to a “new normal”, which will establish safety parameters to gradually lift restrictions. These new measures will be adapted to and will depend on how public health data evolves and how they are affected by restrictions being lifted.

Based on what I’ve read briefly on social media, there is a lot of confusion about the changes. I would like to clarify that TWO Orders were issued today, (1) applies ONLY to the islands of Formentera, la Gomera, el Hierro and la Graciosa and (2) to all other regions of Spain. Some people have read or heard about the restrictions that were lifted on these specific islands and thought they applied to everyone which is not the case.

Let’s go through Order SND388/2020, 3rd May 2020, starting with Retail Commercial Premises and Professional Services:

  1. All establishments, retail commercial premises and professional services whose activities were suspended after the State of Emergency was declared, with the exception of those premises that are over 400m2 as well as those within commercial centres, or within commercial centres where the establishment does not have a direct and independent access from the exterior of the building and as long as the following requirements are fulfilled: (a) An appointment system to guarantee only one customer per employee, however, a waiting area is not permitted in the interior of the commercial premise (b) Individual attention must be guaranteed each customer with the corresponding physical separation between them, and if this is not possible, counters or screens must be installed to accomplish this (c) A preferential schedule for over 65s must be established to coincide with the hours they are permitted to go outside
  2. The measures detailed in this Order do not apply to those business activities and establishments that were permitted to open in line with the initial decree, as these may remain open under the same conditions from the start of the State of Emergency
  3. All the establishments may put a collection system in place for customers to pick up their items, as long as this is staged to prevent groups of people gathering in and around the premises
  4. Journeying to and from the establishments may only be done within the municipality of residence, unless the service or product cannot be found there
  5. Establishments that open to the public must be cleaned and disinfected at least twice a day, paying special attention to most-used surfaces, such as door handles, counters, furniture, bannisters, dispensers, floors, phones, clothes hangers, trolleys, baskets, taps and similar objects. The surfaces must always be cleaned at theend of the day. Disinfectants such as diluted bleach (1:50) must be used or products approved by the Health Ministry. After each clean, the materials and equipment used for personal protection must be disposed of safely, after which hands must be properly washed. A midday clean (or part-way through the work day) is recommended. Work stations must also be cleaned and disinfected betwen shift changes, paying special attention to most used surfaces and shared equipment
  6. Where there is more than one employee seeing to customers, the above cleaning measures must be extended to shared areas such as changing changing rooms, locker rooms, bathrooms, kitchens and rest areas
  7. Uniforms (or clothes worn to work if there is no uniform) msut be washed daily on cycles between 60 and 90 degrees
  8. Use of the establishments bathroom facilities is strictly prohibited, unless essential. After its use, they must be cleaned and disinfected IMMEDIATELY (toilet basin, sink, dispensers, taps, door handles…)
  9. All establishments and premises must have bins available (preferably with a pedal actioned lid) to deposit tissues and any other disposable material. These bins must be cleaned frequently
  10. Employees who are self-isolating due to contracting COVID-19, o those who are under house quarantine due to coming into contact with someone who either has the virus or is displaying symptoms, are not permitted to return to work
  11. The business owner is responsible for ensuring safety measures are put into place to prevent furher contagion and must make sure employees are equipped with protective gear and that hand gel (as approved by the Health Ministry) is available at all times. The use of face masks will be obligatory when saftey distances of approximately 2 metres between staff and customers or between employees cannot be guaranteed. If there are security screens installed, this distance can be reduced to 1 metre. All personnel must be properly informed and instructed about the correct use of protective gear and procedures. The same applies for third-party employees that access the premises such as delivery services
  12. Those companies that employ fingerprint devices to record when staff enter and leave the work place, must use an alternative system
  13. Internal procedures, rotas, use of equipment etc., must be modified to adhere to new protocols
  14. Some services such as hairdressers, beauty salons, physiotherapists and similar, cannot by nature maintain these safety distances, so they must make use of personal protective gear to ensure they are protected as well as the customer. A distance of at least 2 metres however must be maintained between each customer
  15. The safety distances apply in common areas for employees (changing room, locker room, bathroom, break room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom etc)
  16. If an employee begins to display COVID-19 related symptoms, the contact line for the Autonomous Region must be called and the employee must abandon the work place immediately, and must not be permitted to return until their medical status has been evaluated by a medic
  17. Customers must not linger in establishments
  18. A single employee is not permitted to simultaneously see to more than one customer at a time
  19. Establishments must provide hand dispensers for customers and these must be placed at the entrance and be maintained for proper and hygienic use
  20. Customers that go to establishments that have some type of autoservice are not permitted to use the equipment themselves. Instead, a member of staff must opérate the machines
  21. Product samples may not be used
  22. Clothing establishments must ensure the changing cubicles are used by one person at a time and they msut be cleaned and disinfected after each use. If a customer tries on items of clothing that they do not purchase, these items must be sanitized before being returned to the rack for another customer to try (In any case, I personally recommend washing any new items before storing them at home or wearing them, especially now)

Moving onto the Hospitality and Restaurant Sector:

  1. Until now, these activities have only been permitted to operate as a delivery service, but now customers may phone ahead and collect their order from the establishment
  2. No food may be consumed onsite
  3. A preferential delivery service may be provided for over 65s, dependents or other vulnerable persons
  4. When a customer wishes to pick up their order, they must either phone ahead or use an alternative no contact system. The establishment is responsible for advising customers of the pick-up time to prevent unnecessary groups of people in or around the establishment. An area must be set-up and clearly marked as the space where payment must be made and food collected. The necessary safety distances must be ensured or counters and screens installed
  5. The establishments may only remain open to the public during the times when food can be collected
  6. Hand sanitizer must be made available to customers upon entering the premises
  7. A bin with a foot pedal actioned lid must be available upon the customer leaving the premises
  8. Customers may not remain in the establishment longer than necessary to pay for and collect their orders
  9. There must be clearly marked areas in those places that allow for more than one customer to be served at a time to ensure safety distances are visible. This can be done by placing tape on the floor, creating boundaries with some type of marker or signs. In any case, a single worker is not permitted to serve more than one customer at a time
  10. If more than one customer cannot be served at the same time (if there are insufficient employees or maneuverability within the premise), access must be done individually unless an adult is being accompanied by somebody with a disability, a minor or a dependent

These are the measures outlined in the Order published on today’s date, that will come into effect from tomorrow Monday 4th May 2020, to allow those business activities that had been banned to operate once again under these limitations for health and safety purposes. If we all adhere to them, the quicker we will hopefully return to normal.

On another and very important note, the Government has issued assurances that those business who have employees on suspended contracts (ERTE) or those sole traders who have applied for or who are currently receiving benefits, will continue to do so even if they resume their activity based on this Order. The reason for this is because these benefits are to remain until the State of Emergency is lifted completely, but at present, only certain restrictions have been removed, but the State of Emergency itself is still in effect. I know this would have been a cause of concern for many of you, and I hope that the majority can reopen under these conditions. As you know, I normally post on these matters once the official decree or order has been published, but since this is an important issue, I felt it should be mentioned, however, when further information is released about retaining the rights to benefits etc., you can read about it here, so subscribe to my blog at www.canaryadminservices.com (fill you details out in the footer of any of the pages you access on my site and begin receiving email notifications every time I post).

And tomorrow, May the Fourth Be With You!

Sorry, I couldn’t resist some Star Wars humour here!
27
Apr 2020
0

COVID-19: Canarian Government Publishes Law to Complement Sole Trader “Unemployment” Benefits

As mentioned in my article posted on the 20th April 2020, the Canarian Government approved a decree on

COVID-19: Canarian Government Publishes Law to Complement Sole Trader “Unemployment” Benefits

Business Owners, COVID-19 , , , , , Sabrina L. Williams

As mentioned in my article posted on the 20th April 2020, the Canarian Government approved a decree on 2nd April 2020 stating their resolve to make up the balance of the benefits payable by the Central Government for Sole Trader Unemployment. The decree published by the Central Government confirmed payment of 70% of the Base Rate paid each month in Social Security Contributions (a minimum rate of 944,40 euros) which is why most of you have received a payment of 661,08 euros so far, but when I saw the first notifications approving some of my clients applications, my first question was, what about the 30% the Canarian Government promised to pay?

Following on from my previous article, I can now say the Canarian Government drafted an Order on 21st April which was published this morning as Order 21st April 2020, BOC Nr. 82. This Order details the requirements to apply for the missing 30% of Sole Trader Benefits for those business owners who were either forced to close doors on 15th March 2020, or who have since experienced decreased income of at least 75% in relation to the average income taken over the previous six months. The main points to take away from this Order are as follows:

  • A fund for an initial 11 million euros has been made available for this grant
  • This grant is not automatically payable, so although you may have been notified about provisional approval from the Central Government and received the 70% payment already, this grant is only given upon request
  • Only business owners whose registered tax address is in the Canary Islands are elegible to apply
  • These business owners must (1) have been registered as self-employed at Social Security on the date of the State of Emergency -14th March 2020- (2) must have a business activity that was suspended by article 10 of the Royal Decree that authorized the State of Emergency (3) must have received approval via the Mutua of their right to receive the 70% payment by the Central Government, either due to their activity been automatically closed or to a reduced income of at least 75% as stipulated in article 17 of Royal Decree-Law 8/2020, 17th March
  • To be up to date in all State and Autonomous Region tax obligations as well as Social Security contributions
  • To fulfil all obligations established under article 14 of General Grant Laws (Ley General de Subvenciones), which basically states the applicant meets all necessary requirements for said grant and can provide proof of this, can provide accounting books etc
  • Is registered at under the Economic and Financial Registry of the Canarian Government (this can be done at the same time the application is processed if necessary)
  • This grant is applicable to self-employed persons whose activity has been suspended in virtue of Royal Decree 463/2020, 14th March and for a maximum period of one and a half months from the date of the State of Emergency
  • Upon applying, the applicant allows the Administration to verify their situation at Social Security, the National Tax Office etc., although the applicant can refuse this authorization, but they would then have to provide the necessary proof themselves
  • The applicant must sign a Sworn Declaration stating whether they are in receipt of other grants, benefits etc as a result of the State of Emergency, or a declaration to the contrary saying they have not applied for or received other grants. Details of these other benefits/ grants must be provided
  • All applications will be processed by the Administration in order of arrival
  • The Administration will review the request and determine whether the applicant meets the requirements. They may also ask for additional documents to validate the application which much be provided within 10 days. If the paperwork is not received, the application will be automatically withdrawn
  • The Administration must resolve applications within three months from the date of receipt. This deadline may be increased under extreme circumstances, but generally speaking, if the applicant is not notified within three months, it is understood the grant has not been approved due to administrative silence
  • All applications must be sent and processed online via the Regional Employment Ministry (we’ll get to that later…)
  • The amount due will be determined by applying 30% of the Base Rate payable to Social Security. If the applicant does not reach the minimum contribution period to qualify for “unemployment” under normal circumstances, the amount due will be the equivalent of 30% of the minimum Base Rate.

This last point was one of the concerns I highlighted in my previous article because the 2nd April Decree only referred to the grant being calculated on the minimum Base Rate, but many business owners contribute at a higher Base Rate. This issue has therefore been answered positively in this Order. Regarding the stipulation about not qualifying for unemployment, generally speaking and outside the current COVID-19 crisis, to qualify for sole trader unemployment, the applicant must have specifically contributed the concept of “unemployment” within the 48 months prior to closure of business and in an uninterrupted manner during the twelve months immediately prior to closure.

As can be expected, falsification of details or circumstances will be penalized by the return of any payment received as well as interest due and possible fines, however, the Administration has four years by law to reclaim, so the applicant must preserve all documents that refer to their entitlement to this grant for the same period of time.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Decree and this Order refer to an initial fund of 11 million euros; this may be increased if necessary, but only if additional funds can be made available for this purpose, but as I mentioned previously, this grant is a “first come first served” operation, so if the funds are depleted and additional funds are not approved by the Government, any applications that are received once money runs out will be automatically rejected.

Now for the part I said we would get back to… The Order states that all applications must be sent and processed via the Regional Employment Ministry‘s online platform, but this morning I checked and the procedure has not been habilitated on their website yet and nothing has changed upon writing this article this evening. The Order was drafted on 21st April, officially released today and comes into effect from tomorrow, Tuesday 28th April 2020, so perhaps the platform will be ready by morning…?

In any case, this is a completely different application to the Central Government and it is payable in a single payment, so a message to my clients: Please email me, if you would like to apply for this additional grant so the applications can be prepared as soon as possible and filed the moment the Regional Employment Ministry updates their online platform to receive petitions. If you are not a client of this consultancy (why not?) and you applied for the Central Government benefit via your own accountant, I would recommend you contact them asap to get this application underway if you want to claim.

UPDATE 28/04/2020: In my previous article, I mentioned a few issues I had with the available information, and since last night, I have been thinking further about the Order and there are still queries/ concerns about the way the document has been drafted, namely:

1. The use of the word “grant” or “subsidy” instead of “Benefit” as the Central Government has done. This implies that any monies received must be declared as income next year on your Personal Tax Return for 2020

2. The official Summons or Notice is still pending publication on the Platform that is supposed to receive and process these applications

3. There are a couple of contradictions in the text; in one instance, a requirement is to be registered under the Social Security system on the date of the state of emergency and in the very next paragraph, they say the applicant must have cancelled registration of their business activity as a result of the activity being suspended by Royal Decree. This does not make sense because a requirement for those who receive benefits from the Central Government is to remain “active” on paper. The whole point of this is to try to prevent sole traders from closing their businesses permanently and laying off employees

4. Another contradiction is that one one hand, they refer to the grant being based on those affected as per Article 17 of Royal Decree-Law 8/2020. This article speaks about business owners whose activity was suspended due to the state of emergency, as well as those whose income has significantly decreased by at least 75%. However, in another portion of the Order, they state that business owners whose activity is not listed as one of those that were automatically do not qualify. This statement would therefore, exclude those who have suffered a lower income, so again, there seems to be a discrepancy

5. The Order talks about a single payment, however, benefits payable by the Central Government will continue for the duration of the state of emergency. Since this is supposed to be a complementary payment to make up 100% of the Base Rate, shouldn’t the payments continue in line with the Central Government’s?

Further information may be available over the next few days to clarify some of the details included in this Order, and most of the Decrees and Orders published since the State of Emergency began have been followed up with clarifications and corrections which may be the case here.

There have been whispers about the progressive lift of restrictions and the possibility of extending lockdown measures until the end of May, so I imagine further news will become available about that shortly too.

25
Apr 2020
1

COVID-19: New Order Lets Children Exercise Outside (for an Hour)

As the restrictions placed upon us begin to take their toll on most adults, the younger population has

COVID-19: New Order Lets Children Exercise Outside (for an Hour)

COVID-19 , , , , Sabrina L. Williams

As the restrictions placed upon us begin to take their toll on most adults, the younger population has been waiting impatiently for the day when they may be able to see the outside world again. Sunday 26th April is that day! Today, the Health Minister, Salvador Illa Roca has signed Order SND/370/2020, 25th April that details why and how children can finally (and safely) leave their homes for some much needed exercise.

The State of Emergency has been extended three times since 14th March 2020; the last time was on 24th April when it was extended until 10th May 2020. Schools and other educational centres closed prior to the state of emergency, which means children have been cooped up at home for more than SIX WEEKS, and some do not have access to a garden, terrace or even a balcony at home!

It only stands to reason this is having a major effect on them both physically and mentally, and this has not gone unnoticed by the United Nations’ Comittee on the Rights of the Child. This committee has called upon governments to alert them of the long term physical, psychological and emotional damage these new circumstances could be causing.

For this reason, the Order allows children to go outside for an hour a day for some relief from the imposed quarantine. When they say “children”, they refer to those under the age of fourteen and these outings must be supervised by an adult at all times. The best way to continue is to list the conditions:

1. Daily outings are permitted for a maximum of ONE HOUR

2. The maximum distance you are allowed to venture away from home is ONE KILOMETRE

3. The limits have been set between 9am and 9pm

4. Children who show symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to somebody who has the virus must continue to self-isolate at home and are not permitted to participate in these daily outings

5. This Order does not affect exceptions/ permitted activities for minors as per Royal Decree 463/2020, 14th March

6. Daily exercise can be formed in groups of a maximum of one adult in charge and three children who live in the same home (you cannot take your neighbour’s children or get together with other parents and children)

7. A safety distance of at least 2 metres must be maintained between your group and others who are out and about as well

8. You are permitted to use public streets and areas, to include natural landscapes and authorized green areas that are within one kilometre of your home. Activities at playgrounds and sports installations are not permitted

9. If the accompanying adult is not the child’s parent, they must provide a signed authorization from them (tutor, legal guardian, nanny…)

10. The accompanying adult must ensure sufficient steps are taken to prevent contagion on these outings

This Order comes into effect from midnight on 26th April 2020 until the end of state of emergency or any posible extensions.

Enjoy your newfound freedom and stay safe 🙂

15
Apr 2020
2

COVID-19: Extended Deadline for First Quarter 2020 Taxes

Since last Friday, we have heard whispers the National Tax Office may postpone the date to file taxes

COVID-19: Extended Deadline for First Quarter 2020 Taxes

COVID-19 , , , , , , , , , , Sabrina L. Williams

Since last Friday, we have heard whispers the National Tax Office may postpone the date to file taxes for the first quarter of this year, but this was not debated until yesterday, and finally published this morning. Royal Decree-Law 14/2020, 14th April is the latest addition to a growing list of laws that have been approved in the month since the entire country has been in a State of Emergency.

This new decree states that the deadline to file taxes has been extended to 15th May 2020 (that is for accountants to file the returns) with payment due on 20th May 2020, as long as the sole trader or company’s income did not exceed 600.000 euros in 2019 (which means approximately 95% of all businesses in Spain will benefit from this change).

The Treasury Minister and Spokesperson for the Government, María Jesús Montero said in yesterday’s press release that this measure will help businesses fulfil their tax obligations and allow for better cash flow under these difficult circumstances. Associations that represent accountants, economists and the like have rallyed the Tax Office to take this step because of difficulties in contacting clients, obtaining the necessary paperwork etc., but the Tax Office has had a long time to make this decision and has chosen to wait until the deadline to make it official.

I would like to say a massive THANK YOU to all of my clients who have been fantastic throughout this situation. They managed to get their accounts to us and we were able to input their documents and advise them of the tax result before the deadline just in case the Tax Office did not back down. Although most taxes were filed, they won’t be charged to your bank accounts until 20th May 2020 as shown in the decree. All requests for payment of these taxes in installments will also be honoured.

On another note, I have some statistics of interest for you:

* 941.000 applications for sole trader unemployement have been registered

* 396.000 sole traders and companies have applied for ERTEs (suspended contracts for their employees)

* 36.048 employees who have either contracted the virus or have had to self isolate are receiving financial aid in concept of Professional Illness

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