The Canarian Government has announced today, the regulations to be applied for the new normality after Phase 3. We have highlighted the measures to be applied to businesses.
Every citizen should adopt the necessary measures to avoid the risk of COVID-19 spreading, including the isolation conditions and the quarantine prescribed by a doctor. This duty of caution and protection will be equally required from any person carrying out an activity, where the health and safety measures established by the health authorities must be respected.
The 1,5 metres social distancing must be respected in the public pathway, in outdoor spaces and in any closed space for public use or that is open to the public, if not, then alternative protection must be used such as a mask with proper hygiene and respiratory use.
General measures for capacity, cleaning and disinfecting and other prevention measures.
In general, without prejudice to the specific rules or protocols already established, the following
measures will be applied to all establishments, business premises, facilities and spaces for public use and activities of a public in order to control capacity control and safety distance:
1. The maximum capacity must be displayed to the public, which must include the workers themselves. This capacity must ensure that interpersonal safety distance of 1,5 metres is respected among non-cohabitants when inside, or, failing that, masks must be worn. Procedures must be established to allow the capacity to be controlled, so that this is not exceeded at any time, as well as procedures that allow control of the interpersonal safety distance. The capacity control will include the car parks for workers and users.
2. The interpersonal safety distance will be guaranteed at the time of entry and exit of the premises, if not then the mask will have to be used. Crowds both inside and outside the establishment must be avoided at all times.
3. Stairs should be a preferential use as opposed to a lift. However, if a lift is used then this will be for one person, unless the people are cohabitants or masks are worn.
4. When the establishment has more than two doors then one should be used for entering and another for exiting. These doors should have an automatic opening system in place wherever possible or permanently stay open to avoid the touching them.
5. The interpersonal safety distance between workers or service providers and customers must be respected, failing to do so will mean the use of alternative measures such as the mask or screen.
6. Toilets, changing rooms, nursing rooms etc. will be for the use of one person for spaces of up to 4 square metres, unless assistance is required in which case a companion may be used. For those areas that exceed 4 square metres, the maximum capacity will be 50%, always ensuring the interpersonal safety distance.
7. Open air events may never exceed 1000 assistants and when in an enclosed area may not exceed 300 assistants.
Cleaning and disinfecting measures for all activities.
1. The owner of the economic activity or, where appropriate, the director or person in charge of the centers, facilities, spaces for public use and entities, must ensure that they have adopted cleaning and disinfection measures appropriate to the characteristics and intensity of use of establishments, premises, facilities or spaces. Cleaning and disinfection of the installations must be carried out at least once a day. Special attention must be paid to the communal areas and the most frequent contact surfaces such as door knobs, tables, furniture, handrails, floors, telephones, hangers, counters, zone games children, benches or chairs and other elements with similar characteristics. The measurements of cleaning will also extend, where appropriate, to private areas of workers, such as changing rooms, lockers, toilets, kitchens and rest areas.
2. Cleaning and disinfection will be carried out according to the following guidelines:
a. Disinfectants must be used such as bleach diluted with water on a 1:50 ration or any of the suitable disinfectants that are authorize and registered on the market and dulyauthorized and registered.
b. After each cleaning, the materials and protective equipment used must be disposed of safely, proceeding later to washing hands.
3. In the event that equipment, tools, objects etc. are shared by more than one user, client or worker, mechanisms must be established as well as timely processes to guarantee cleaning and disinfection between each use; also encourage the use of hand hygiene before and after their use.
The use of products that involve direct manipulation by successive clients or users will be permanently supervised by a worker who can proceed to its disinfection after handling the product by each customer or user. The clothes textiles tested but not purchased, or returned by the customer, will be sanitized before given to other clients.
4. Cleaning and disinfection of toilets, changing rooms, changing rooms, nursing rooms must guarantee their state of health and hygiene, as well as the cleaning of toilets, taps and door knobs of toilets in establishments and premises open to the public. In the establishments of the commercial textile, clothing repair and similar sectors, testers should be used by a single person and they should be cleaned and disinfected frequently spaces.
5. In the event that uniforms or work clothes are used, they must be washed and regularly disinfected, following the usual procedure.
6. Bins with pedal-operated lid must be available to deposit tissues and any other disposable material, which must be cleaned frequently, at least once a day.
Other preventative measures.
1. Periodic ventilation measures must be carried out to ventilate the air. Ventilation can be via natural measures or, in case of using air conditioning.
2. Frequent hand hygiene must be promoted for users and workers using water, soap or disposable paper, or alcohol-based products, ensuring it is available and correctly replaced. Hydro-alcoholic gels or disinfectant dispensers properly authorized and registered must be made available to the public. They must be visible and placed in the entrance area.
3. Payment by card or other means that do not involve physical contact should be encouraged, ensuring that the devices are cleaned and disinfected between each use.
4. In the case vending machines, self-service and other similar activities, the owner of these must comply with the proper hygiene and disinfection measures of the machines and provide informative signage for correct use.
5. Reminders of preventative measures must be carried out (entrance signs, strategic areas, public announcements etc).
Capacity limitations and prevention measures in specific sectors.
Educational Centres.
The Ministry of Education, Universities, Culture and Sports will be responsible for approving the prevention and organization protocols necessary for the development of the school year 2020/2021, as well as for extracurricular activities. These will include the health recommendations approved so far and will be supervised by the Health Authorities. Each university will approve the established protocols in order to return to face-to-face teaching activity.
Restaurant/cafeteria/bar trade.
1. Tables or grouping of tables must be separated 1.5 meters apart. This distance must also be respected at the bar i.e. between clients or groups.
2. The use of menus must be avoided, opting for electronic devices, blackboards, posters, QR or other similar means.
3. Accessory items, such as tableware, glassware, cutlery or tablecloths, bread baskets, coffee cups, among others, will be stored in closed rooms and, if this is not possible, far from areas where customers and workers pass, and must also remove any decorative item from the tables.
4. Self-service products such as napkin rings, toothpick holders, vinegar/oil cruets, and other similar utensils must be avoided.
5. The customer cannot sit at a table without the staff cleaning and disinfecting it first.
Tourist accommodation.
1. Each establishment must determine the capacity of communal areas, as well as those places where events can be held and the most safe way them out to comply with their maximum capacity foreseen, in accordance with the hygiene, protection and minimum distance measures established.
2. When staff provides a luggage transportation service, they must be carried out safely. This will mean disposable gloves to be worn by the staff and /or disinfecting wipes to clean handles, etc.
3. In the parking area, staff must not touch the customer’s car i.e. gloves must be worn.
4. Animation activities or group classes must be designed and planned in such a way that guarantees the minimum safety distance between people, or use of masks. Animation activities or Group sessions will preferably take place outdoors and must avoid exchange of materials.
5. In the case of sports facilities, swimming pools or gyms, spas etc. the measures specifically established will apply. Guidelines and recommendations for each establishment will be determined for its use, in accordance with the prevention and hygiene standards and will guarantee that these measures are provided to the customers.
6. Any buffet style service provided in hotels, restaurants etc. must include a protection screen, be individually plated and / or covered with any other protection system that prevents possible contamination of the dishes.
7. Textiles, including rugs, as well as decoration objects and amenities designed for customers in rooms must be removed or limited.
8. Blankets and pillows in closets must be protected.
9. The shared use of accommodation units will only be permitted by people that cohabit.
Specific measures for tourist guide activity.
1. The tourist guide activity may be carried out, for groups of up to a maximum of twenty-five people, establishing the necessary measures to ensure the social distancing during the activity carried out or, failing that, alternative measure such as the use of a mask.
2. These activities will be arranged, preferably, by appointment and groups will be a maximum of twenty-five people, avoiding during the development of the activity, transit through areas or places that may generate crowds.
3. When visiting monuments and other cultural facilities, you must respect the conditions in which these are to be carried out.
4. During the development of the activity, audio guides, brochures or other analogous material may not be used.
Commercial Establishments.
Any other business or commercial establishment that has not been named or included in this publication may not exceed seventy-five percent of the authorized or established capacity. However, this shall not apply to supermarkets, pharmacies, medical or health establishments, opticians, orthopedic shops, hairdressers, press and stationery shops, petrol stations, tobacconists, technological and telecommunications equipment shops, pet stores, internet commerce, telephone, dry cleaners and laundries, without prejudice to the need to comply with general hygiene and protection measures.
Cultural activities such as cinemas, theatres, auditoriums and similar spaces, as well as outdoor activities.
The seats must be pre-assigned to ensure that those people who co inhabit are grouped together, public must remain seated and respect social distancing, avoiding the formation of large groups and crowds, paying special attention to the access areas and surroundings.
Preventative measures for public and private administrative offices that attend to the public.
1. Attention to citizens and users in public and private administrative offices should preferably be carried out by telephone and electronic means, wherever possible.
2. When possible, a prior appointment system will preferably be established.
3. In case of prior appointments, the wait will be controlled and the customers with the prior appointment may only be sat in a waiting area specifically for customers with appointments. Should any queue occur, the corresponding distance must be kept, which should be clearly informed through signage inside or outside the premises.
4. Entrances subject to crowding, must have signage clearly indicating the social distancing and markings on the floor, taking into account the capacity of the premises or office.
5. A physical barrier will be placed as far as possible in the service posts that guarantees the safety distance between staff and citizens. Likewise, I only know will place a chair per service post, if applicable.
Nightclubs and nightlife.
Clubs and other nightlife establishments may open exclusively public outdoor spaces for consumption sitting at the table. In any case, the capacity in terraces will be 75% and it will be necessary to keep the distance interpersonal or, failing that, the use of a mask. Dance floors are not permitted.