This afternoon, the meeting of the Civil Protection Plan Advisory Council (LABi), chaired by lehendakari, Iñigo Urkullu, took place. At the press conference following the meeting, the Basque Government Health Advisor, Miren Gotzone Sagardui, announced that the Basque Government will present a proposal.

Exceptions at Christmas

On the one hand, the Basque Government will raise the meeting limit of persons from six to ten on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 and 6 January. On 24 and 31 December, the possibility of extending the curfew until 01:00 will be considered. It will also propose the abolition of restrictions on the mobility of peoples, although it has not specified whether it wants only those days of celebration or throughout the week to be enabled. The counsellor explained that these measures must be agreed at State level and not at State level.

The Basque Government argues that the other measures should remain in force during Christmas, with each community having the capacity to make adjustments according to its reality. Among others, those dedicated to commerce, fairs, nursing homes or hospitality.

The measures will be reviewed on 9 December

The LABi committee will meet again on 9 December, and it will then be when it decides whether or not the current measures will be reformed. In the meantime, prohibitions and limitations will be maintained for cultural halls, sporting activities, inter-village mobility, hospitality or curfew. It has anticipated that measures will in any case be adapted to businesses: For those over 150 square metres, the maximum capacity will be 60 per cent and for those less than 75 per cent.

Improves yes, but not enough

Sagardui summarises the analysis of the situation carried out by the committee: “We’re OK, but we’re not OK. The situation remains worrying.” He explained that the contagion data has improved, but that in hospitals and ICUs there is still too much population admitted to the ICU.