'New Normality' on the horizon: What's 'New', and how 'Normal' is it?

HEALTH authorities have been speaking for some time now of the 'New Normality' when Spain is fully out of lockdown – auguring changes to the way we live and interact that offer a somewhat depressing panorama – but the government has now confirmed what this really means, and it's not as bad as we first thought.

The 'New Normality' is not about how we will live the rest of our lives; it's more of a 'Phase 4', with stringent security and hygiene measures but no confinement, and will only last until the SARS-CoV-2 is considered 'beaten'.

By this, the government means that a vaccine would have been found and made widely available in much the same way the autumn-winter influenza inoculation is administered annually to anyone aged 65 and over, public sector workers in close contact with other people, and anyone with a health condition that could make a bout of the 'flu much more serious – or, alternatively, when no active cases remain in the country, the risk of imported cases is minimal, and a further outbreak appears unlikely.

So it's not going to be forever – although it's likely to last longer than the standard two weeks of the four 'unlocking phases'.

Current 'Phase 3' areas are hoped to be in 'New Normality' mode by June 22, and those still on 'Phase 2' should, all being well, be there by June 29.

 

No restrictions, but 'act as though everyone has got it'

With over half the country now on the final 'Phase 3' and the remainder on 'Phase 2', a large dose of 'normality' has already arrived with businesses now open and no restrictions on movement within the same province, and 'New Normality' will restore it all except for the requirement to continue social distancing and wear masks.

Effectively, although we will all be able to live much as we did before, the general advice is to act as though everyone you see is a Covid-19 carrier – even though 'New Normality' will not start until this is relatively unlikely.

Compulsory mask-wearing will remain as it is currently – anywhere outside the home, even in the street or out in the countryside, on all public transport and inside all buildings open to the public, for anyone aged six or over, as well as in private modes of transport of up to nine seats unless all passengers and the driver are from the same household.

Masks are not necessary where a minimum interpersonal distance of 1.5 to two metres (4'11” to 6'6”) can be 100% guaranteed – but except in the depths of the countryside or on small-town streets in the dead of night, this is rare, so even when you believe you'll have no problems in keeping this far apart from others, you should carry a mask with you or wear it pulled down so you can pop it on at a split second's notice.

To this end, they are also required in the workplace, although companies must, unless the nature of their industry prevents it, ensure staff are kept 1.5 to two metres apart at all times.

The only exceptions are for anyone practising a sport which makes it impossible or unsafe to wear one, such as if it impedes breathing, and for anyone who has a health condition that makes it dangerous to wear a mask, like a respiratory disorder.

They are strongly recommended for children aged three to five inclusive, but are not safe to be worn by babies under three.

 

Compulsory reporting, contact-tracing and 'sufficient healthcare resources'

Also, during the 'New Normality', Covid-19 will continue to be a health condition which must, by law, be immediately and urgently reported to authorities, in the same way as certain other classified highly-contagious or infectious illnesses, including many tropical diseases, have to be registered by the State as soon as they are detected.

In the event of any possible suspected case – where a person shows symptoms compatible with Covid-19, even if only one of these, or who has been anywhere near someone who is known to have the disease or be a carrier – mandatory diagnostic testing will be carried out without delay.

Regional governments will be given full jurisdiction to monitor and control movements of people, incidences of contagion and PCR testing, and will be legally required to guarantee that enough medical professionals are employed and on duty at any one time to ensure suspected cases can be tested and confirmed cases treated without delay.

All individuals and public or private organisations, including patients if their health allows them to communicate, are required by law to provide authorities will all requested information they are reasonably able to supply in order to help trace others who may have been in contact with a person diagnosed with Covid-19.

For nursing homes, regional governments are required to oversee and coordinate operations in order to identify possible cases in residents or staff straight away, have them immediately isolated or admitted to hospital as necessary.

Spain's government says the horrific situations at some nursing homes reportedly widely by international media had all been in privately-run sheltered accommodation, and would not have been allowed to happen in State-run or council-owned centres, but the 'New Normality' will give authorities the power to oversee even private elderly care homes.

As well as masks, in any situation where people may not be able to maintain social distancing at all times, other hygiene measures must continue in place – so the hand-sanitiser dispensers and plastic gloves at the entrance to supermarkets, and which are obligatory for all customers as soon as they walk in, will remain.

Disinfecting of all practicable surfaces between every use will also be required to continue.

Workplaces which are feasibly able to allow staff to continue working from home are strongly recommended to let them do so, and in all cases where employees have to be on the premises, working hours and shifts should be staggered and customer numbers should be controlled to ensure nobody is forced to be within less than two metres of anyone else.

Regional governments must ensure that all public buildings, healthcare facilities, and business premises have enough masks, gloves and hand-sanitiser available for constant use.

Airports are required to have enough staff on the premises to maintain correct order in queues and waiting areas and guarantee social distancing, but will be permitted to offer as many flights as necessary to meet demand – unless this means they become overwhelmed and are unable to ensure health and safety procedures are adhered to.

Similar rules apply to other forms of public transport, meaning the rush-hour 'metro crush' in city-workers' past lives will no longer be permitted, and if this means employees may end up being late because of having to wait for several trains to be able to board safely, companies are strongly urged to be flexible and to encourage this level of responsibility.

All transport bodies, including individual airlines, taxi firms and individual taxi drivers, are required to keep a record of every single passenger if they cross at least a provincial border with them, and retain these data for a minimum of four weeks.

The idea is to make it easier for health authorities to trace possible contacts with Covid-19 patients – the incubation period is normally two weeks, but doubling it provides a margin for error.

All these contacts will be given a compulsory PCR test and, if the result is positive, will need to supply as much information as they can about their own contacts.