About Sabrina L. Williams

Although I was born in the UK, I moved to the Canary Islands, Spain at a young age and I haven't looked back. The Canaries is a fantastic place to live, I mean you can do all types of outdoor activities practically all year round because of the great weather. Horses are my poison but the islands are also a superb spot for water sports so they do attract a lot of attention from people around the world. Anyway, enough about that. Back in 2011, I made one of the biggest, scariest yet best decisions I'd ever made and set-up my own business in the middle of a recession. I love what I do as no two days are the same, plus Spanish law keeps me on my toes as it is constantly changing (often without warning!) so there is always something new to learn. As I've branched out in the world of Administrative Consultancy, I decided to create a blog to discuss topics of interest to others in my industry and my clients, share tips and experiences, to see what new ideas people have for improving their businesses and the like so I hope you'll find the time to join me on this venture...


From this Saturday 26th March 2022, certain restrictions have been lifted due to improvements recorded throughout February and March as well as the high number of fully vaccinated people that in turn has weakened the symptoms and effects of Covid when contracted. Despite the fact the Alert Levels on some islands remain high, the repercussions from a public health standpoint and for individuals has decreased allowing for lesser restrictions than expected even a few months ago.

Early detection, observation and control strategies are being implemented after observing the impact Covid had during the sixth wave that resulted in higher vaccinations and elevated incidents because more testing was being carried out although the majority of those cases only presented mild symptoms or none at all. The high detection rate contributed to higher pressure on health services but a decrease in the number of patients admitted to the ICU.

Agreements were reached in a Plenary Session held by the Canarian Government Council on Thursday 24th March whereby some restrictions upheld on all islands in line with the each one’s Alert Level will be suspended, but only temporarily.

The new Agreement was published yesterday in the BOC and is valid between midnight Saturday 26th March and midnight of the 30th April 2022, on the understanding that no significant changes are detected on the islands, i.e., sudden increases in cases or uncontrolled outbreaks during this time.

To that end, if these measures are deemed unfavourable, restrictions outlined in Decree-Law 11/2021 may be reactivated on the affected island or islands.

What Restrictions Have Been Suspended?

The Agreement states that all restrictions detailed in Decree-Law 11/2021, which is to say those relating to maximum occupancy in establishments, closing times and those limiting the number of people who are allowed to gather.

Express and prior authorization to hold events, festivals and similar is no longer required. Smoking in public and on terraces is permitted as is consumption of food and drink on the street. Night life can kickstart under the same conditions each establishment had before the pandemic started (if they can even remember what that was like!)

This situation will be heavily monitored so the experts recommend we continue with the preventative measures we are now used to such as the use of masks indoors, frequent washing of hands, good ventilation and being more vigilant around the elderly or vulnerable persons.

Alert Level Changes

From Monday 28th March 2022, FIVE alert levels will come into effect, ( 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4), based on indicators the experts will use so we’ll have to see how that works out.


This measure that was ratified by the Canarian High Court of Justice and comes into effect tomorrow, Saturday 25th December 2021 and initially for one month after being published this afternoon, although it could be extended depending on how the situation evolves.

Establishments, premises, installations and activities located on islands whose number of cases place them at Phase 3 or 4 on the Covid scale and are obliged to abide by limited occupancy or opening hours must enforce the use of certificates for their patrons.

Access to these places requires presenting a negative certificate that proves the customer aged 12 years and 3 months and over does not have Covid-19. Only certificates issued by a legally authorized laboratory will be accepted and with a maximum of 48 hours.

This type of proof may be substituted by providing an official certificate of vaccination, 14 days after having received the last dosis or by providing evidence of having recovered from Covid within the last 11 to 180 days, again with an official certificate in either paper or digital format.

WHAT ESTABLISHMENTS WILL NOW REQUIRE EVIDENCE OF THE COVID CERTIFICATE?

  • Establishments within the hospitality/ restaurant sector that are open to the public and whose Opening licence permits maximum occupancy in excess of 30 people
  • Nightlife establishments whose Opening Licence allows for a maximum occupancy in excess of 30 people, as well as those that regardless of occupancy, serve food
  • Establishments and areas designated for recreational activities and whose Opening Licence allows for more than 30 people, as well as those that regardless of occupancy, food is consumed
  • Events, festivals and celebrations where crowds may gather and with attendance in excess of 500 people, or again, regardless of maximum occupancy, where food is served and/ or consumed
  • Sports events with crowds of more than 500 persons, or regardless of occupancy, food is served and/or consumed
  • Cultural events, cinema, theatre, auditoriums and similar whose Opening Licence allows for occupancy of more than 50 people or where food is served and/or consumed
  • Gyms and similar
  • Medical establishments and health centres to visit in-patients or to accompany others to an appointment, treatments etc. This does not apply when the patient is a minor, disabled or dependant
  • Residencial establishments or day centres for outside visitors

This measure applies to the establishments, installations and activities described above regardless of whether they are enclosed or in the open-air. The certificate remains voluntary for those islands in Phases 1 or 2.

The Health Department made a Lector COVID SCS app available to these establishments, that can be downloaded from Google Play, Apple Store and Huawei App Gallery to facilitate verification of the Covid certificate.

Fuerteventura is still in Phase 3 until 30th December 2021, so these measures apply. You can download your Covid certificate by typing “mi certificado covid” in your internet browser that takes you to the Canarian Health Service platform and following the instructions. I’ve just done mine in less than a minute to check and it worked fine.

Stay safe


In just over three months, we’ll be “celebrating” two years since the words Covid-19, pandemic, masks, social distancing, mandates, vaccines and new normal not only became part of our vocabulary but part of our daily lives. The 11th March 2020 when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic and the 14th March 2020 when the Spanish Government announced a national lockdown are dates we will remember for a long time.

Yesterday, Thursday 23rd December 2021, the Spanish Government convened and along with Autonomous Regions agreed a series of measures to combat the Omicron variant that seems to be a super spreader of Covid-19. Although the vast majority of the population has been vaccinated and has marked a clear difference in the evolution of the virus, we’ve seen in the last few weeks how the number of active cases on Fuerteventura alone has steadily increased, although it must also be said that 1% of said cases are hospitalized. This has forced the Government’s hand into intensifying current measures to include increased use of masks in public as recorded in Royal Decree-Law 30/2021, that has been approved and published with effects from today, 24th December.

This decree modifies previous legislation and states:

OBLIGATORY USE OF MASKS: Persons age 6 and over are obligated to use masks in the following scenarios

  • In any enclosed area of public use or that is open to the public
  • In any open-air area of public use or that is open to the public
  • In air, sea, road or railway travel to include stations, ports and docks. The same applies when travelling in private vehicles if the occupants do not reside under the same roof. The only exception is when travelling by sea and passengers retire to their cabins

EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE

  • Persons who present with illnesses or respiratory difficulties that could be aggravated by the use of masks or those who due to disabilities or dependency are unable to remove their masks themselves. The same applies to those who present with behavioural disorders that are incompatible with obligatory use of masks
  • Activities that by nature are incompatible with obligatory use of masks in line with Health Department regulations
  • In those enclosed places or areas of public use that form part of a group residence or institution. This only applies to its residents and not to visitors or staff who must wear masks at all times
  • Outside when practicing individual sports activities or non-sport activities in natural areas (in the country) and maintaining the minimum 1,5 metre safety distance between persons who do not reside together
  • As a health and hygiene note, care must be taken when buying masks that are not packaged individually as this may only be done at chemists where proper hygiene can be guaranteed as well as quality control of the product

Due to the sudden increase of cases throughout Spanish territory, the Government is allowing retired health professionals and those with qualifications outside of the EU to practice medicine to reinforce the current workforce.


As we have now become accustomed, every Thursday, the Canarian Government releases the latest status update of all islands and what regulations each citizen must follow according to the Alert Level or Phase of their island.

Last Thursday was no exception, however, this time, a new Decree outlining definitions and exact regulations for each alert level. I am referring to Decree-Law 11/2021, 2nd September, an 88 page document that you can check for yourself by clicking on the link, that establishes judicial regulations re the health alert as well as measures to control and manage the COVID-19 pandemic in the Canary Islands.

The Phases are determined by a risk evaluation based on various epidemiological indicators, the ability of the local health service to attend to the number of active cases, capacity of the ICU etc and any other parameters deemed necessary by the Authorities.

As we know, we operate under a “Traffic Light” system where Phase 1 (Green) is low risk, Phase 2 (Yellow) is medium risk, Phase 3 (Red) is high risk and Phase 4 (Brown) is very high risk. Any changes to alert levels must remain in place for 14 days after the last weekly evaluation, however, in the event of significant changes during that period, separate measures may be activated by the authorities either to increase or decrease limitations.

For now, I am only going to outline measures for Phase 3 since Fuerteventura is directly affected from midnight of Monday 6th December 2021 (Sunday night to Monday) 

GENERAL MEASURES (PHASE 3)

  • CAPACITY: The maximum capacity in establishments is as follows –
    • Hospitality and Restaurant Sector: Specific establishments and similar ones that provide food and drink services as complementary services to the business’ primary activity: 75% exterior and 40% interior
    • Cultural Activities (theatre, cinema, auditoriums, cultural centres, libraries, concert arenas, museums and similar): 55% exterior and interior
    • Other Activities and Spaces: 50% exterior and 33% interior
  • GATHERINGS: In both exterior and interior areas as well as in public and private spaces, the maximum number of persons permitted to meet together is limited to 6, unless they ALL reside under the same roof. If the group is mixed, i.e., some reside together and others don’t, the maximum is still 6
  • CLOSING TIMES: For those establishments that prior to the pandemic did not have a fixed closing time or could close later, the maximum hour permitted is 1am
  • MASS GATHERINGS: These types of events with more than 1000 in attendance are not permitted regardless of an inside or outside venue
  • HOSPITALITY AND RESTAURANT SECTORS: The persons responsible for these types of establishments must collect information on their employees, patrons etc so that in the event of an outbreak, it can be traced and those present can be advised. This is the same register we are familiar with that must include full names, DNI/NIE, phone number, date and time of service and must be kept for at least one month after the event for Public Health Inspectors to examine if necessary
  • NIGHTLIFE: Discos, clubs, cocktail bars, karaokes are allowed to continue but only in establishments that have municipal authorization (Opening Licences with the express right to carry out these activities). Dancing is prohibited. The persons responsible for these types of establishments must collect information on their employees, patrons etc so that in the event of an outbreak, it can be traced and those present can be advised as stated above
  • PARTIES, TRADITIONAL NIGHTLIFE (VERBENAS) AND OTHER POPULAR EVENTS are suspended
  • CHILD CAMPS (Summer Camp set up) whether outdoor or indoor have a maximum capacity of 33% over normal and a maximum of 20 participants including the Instructor
  • PUBLIC TRANSPORT has a reduced capacity of 50% over normal
  • INDOOR SPAS, POOLS AND SAUNAS must remain closed unless its use is for therapeutic reasons, in which case the maximum capacity is 33%
  • OUTDOOR PUBLIC POOLS, SPAS: 33%
  • KIDDY PARKS, REST AREAS AND SIMILAR in establishments, shopping centres and similar must remain closed unless the proper disinfection can be guaranteed after each use
  • MARKETS: Only those markets that are carried out sporadically, on public streets and outdoors are permitted
  • PARKS AND BEACHES: These areas and similar places in public areas where “botellones” (gatherings where people drink alcoholic beverages in public) usually take place must remain closed
  • CHOIRS, BANDS, ORQUESTRAS AND SIMILAR: This type of activity is prohibited in an indoor setting unless continued use of masks and the 2 metre social distancing regulation can be upheld at all times

RECOMMENDATIONS TO PREVENT CONTAGION

  • Each person who makes up a bubble or stable social relations must avoid social gatherings outside of said bubble as much as possible and try to stick to their own group
  • The constant use of masks in an indoor setting and outdoors when social distancing measures cannot be applied
  • To keep a record of those persons with whom you come into close contact with and to download the Radar-Covid app to assist with tracking people who may have been in contact with an infected person

SPECIFIC MEASURES

  • For those establishments open to the public, a complete disinfection of the installations must take place at least once a day, paying close attention to common areas and surfaces of most contact (door handles, tables, bannisters, railings, floors, phones, hangers, counters, chairs and similar elements) with approved products, i.e., bleach solutions (1:50). If equipment or tools are shared by more than one user, client, employee… these must be disinfected after each use
  • Cleanliness of bathrooms, changing rooms, locker rooms and similar areas is paramount
  • Pedal actioned bins must be used and they must be cleaned frequently
  • Payment by card is encouraged over cash and coins and credit card machines must be cleaned after each use
  • I won’t detail each item in the decree but commonsense says to clean, clean, clean surfaces, elements and equipment as much as possible to prevent contamination
  • There must be clear signs reminding customers to maintain the security distance between each other and where possible there should be different entrance and exit points that are clearly marked
  • The maximum capacity in bathrooms, locker rooms and changing rooms is ONE person in areas under 4m2 unless they require assistance, in which case they may be accompanied. For areas larger than 4m2, the maximum capacity is 50% over normal maintaining the security distance between users

HOSPITALITY AND RESTAURANT SECTORS

  • These establishments must guarantee that the 2m security distance between chairs of different tables and/or groups of tables as well as groups of customers at the bar is maintained at all times
  • Each table or group of tables should be placed in accordance to the number of persons to occupy them and whre possible placed in a zig-zag formationn to prevent further distancing between persons. The bar must be clearly marked so that each customer knows exactly where they should remain
  • Menus must be avoided and instead electronic boards, blackboards (chalkboards if you want to be all PC), signs, QR and similar devices must be used
  • Auxiliary table elements such as crockery, glassware, cutlery, tablecloths, bread baskets, mugs etc must be stored in closed cupboard away from areas used by customers. Decorative elements must be removed from tables
  • Napkin holders, tooth pick holders, vinegar, olive oil bottles, salt and pepper shakers etc must be removed and single use packaging must be used instead
  • Smoking on terraces or other exterior areas linked to the establishment is prohibited
  • Correct ventilation in interior areas must be guaranteed
  • Customers must wait to be seated by staff to ensure the table, chairs and other elements have been properly disinfected
  • Buffets and self-service establishments must create hygenic measures and be extra vigilant of use of masks, hand gel etc
  • Delivery service in all alert levels is permitted until midnight
  • Use of masks must be permanent except in the moment food and beverages are being consumed

I hope this summary is useful and any comments are welcome. Fuerteventura is currently the only island at Phase 3; all other islands including Gran Canaria and Tenerife where there are CITIES and large towns with higher populations are at Phase 1 which is embarrassing. We must do better people!


Fuerteventura is the only island affected as the others remain at Phase One

The outcome of the Public Health Plenary Session held as usual on Thursday’s was for Fuerteventura to move up a phase which means that from midnight (tonight) 15th November 2021, the island is at Phase Two at least until the 25th November 2021 according to reports, however, this timeline may be affected upon re-evalution.

The rest of the Canary Islands remain at Phase One, but the overall incident over the last seven days increased by 19,3% so extra vigilance on safety protocols is needed to prevent further contagion. All the islands enjoyed a number of weeks at Phase One, but this does not mean we can relax the rules as this result has proved.

What Are the Rules for Phase Two?

  1. Capacity: The maximum capacity in open-air space is 75% of normal and in interior spaces, 50%
  2. Groups: In both indoor and outdoor areas as well as public and private spaces; the maximum number of persons is 8 unless the group in question is made up of persons who reside under the same roof. If the group is mixed, i.e., some persons reside together and others do not, the maximum of 8 applies
  3. Closing Times: Establishments and activities that prior to the pandemic did not have a fixed closing time or the closing time was later than the one set for this Phase, are required to close at 2am along with everybody else
  4. Night-Life: Clubs, cocktail bars, karaokes and similar activities authorized to be open at night may operate as per the conditions authorized on their Opening Licences, however, dancing is not permitted. These establishments must collect information on employees and customers (full name, ID number, telephone number, date and time of service) in order to track and trace affected persons in the event of an outbreak. This register must be kept for at least one month after the date and made available to the authorities if required
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