Lanzarote’s Cabildo has prepared a guide to beach use following the Spanish government’s decision to allow all of the Canary Islands to enter Phase 2 of the lockdown exit plan on Monday.
Phase 2 permits people to use beaches for leisure purposes, and the Cabildo has established a timetable extending from 10 am to 6 pm, with the first two hours (10 am to 12 pm) being a preferential time slot for the over 70s.
Bathing, walking, sunbathing and individual sports will be permitted on beaches for the first time in ten weeks. Sun beds, showers and public toilets will not be available, and it is forbidden to bring tents and windbreaks or inflatable mattresses. Two-metre distancing must be observed unless those involved are members of the same household.
Beaches will have a maximum number of users, and the Cabildo states that the amount of people on the main public beaches at any time will be available online. Security agents will be available at the main beaches to answer questions and assist the public.
Whether beaches can be used for exercise outside the established timetable will be a matter for local Ayuntamientos. However, several of them are already being used for this purpose, and this is unlikely to change.
Other Phase 2 activities permitted from Monday
From Monday islanders will be able to drive anywhere on the island in order to do individual sports such as swimming and surfing, and are permitted to walk in the countryside without tour guides
Phase 2 allows all commercial businesses to reopen, including shopping centres, which may operate at 30% capacity (40% in individual shops). Shops must continue to operate a preferential time slot for the over-70s.
Restaurants and bars will be able to open indoor dining areas at 40% of normal capacity while outdoor terraces will remain at 50% capacity as they are now.
Cinemas and theatres can open with 50% capacity and seats must be pre-booked to ensure this. Concerts can take place, with a maximum of 50 spectators (indoors) or 400 (outdoors), who must be seated.
Recreational swimming pools can re-open at 30% capacity. Hotels and tourist complexes can re-open common areas at 30% capacity.
Meetings of friends and family can now include up to 15 people, instead of the previous 10, and normal measures of social distancing must be observed.
The time slots for exercise will be abolished for children and adults under 70, who will be able exercise at any time apart from 10 am to 12 pm and 7pm to 8pm – the slots reserved for those over 70.
Religious ceremonies and weddings can take place at 50% capacity. Weddings, wakes and funerals will be subject to maximum figures of attendance depending on whether they are indoors or outdoors.
Infants schools may open for children under 6 may whose parents can demonstrate that they have to attend a workplace. Classes in schools and further education establishments are permitted for young people from the age of 15-16 onwards. Private schools, language academies and other private educational establishments may open with limited capacity.
Anyone, of any age, is permitted to leave the house at any time to shop, dine, visit friends or take part in any of the permitted activities.
