Valencia in English – weekly round-up (28 Mar)

Latest: Coronavirus in Spain figures (31 Mar)

Authorities clamp down on travel restrictions

This Easter there will be no visiting of second homes in different regions as restrictions are tightened, and the first victims have already fallen foul of the measures.

A 78-year-old woman from Madrid was reported to the authorities by a neighbour at the Playa San Juan area of Alicante on Thursday as part of ‘Operación Semana Santa’.

According to Cadena Ser radio, a neighbour called 112 to inform them that someone from outside the Valencia region had travelled there, breaching the Coronavirus restrictions. Patrol units of the Alicante local police were despatched to identify the woman.

Travel between regions is not allowed without a justified reason and the woman now faces a fine of up to €600. The Easter period restrictions came into effect on Friday and will stay in place until 9 April. Full details here: Details of curfews & restrictions for all regions of Spain during ‘State of Alarm’

Mass vaccination of teachers begins

Following last week’s fiasco over whether or not to use the AstraZeneca vaccine, the mass vaccination of teachers and school staff got underway on Friday afternoon and was followed by an intense day of inoculations on Saturday.

The vaccination of education professionals will resume on Wednesday afternoon and conclude during the day on Thursday, taking advantage of teachers being on Easter holidays in case they suffer any side effects from the jab.

Over the four days (26, 27, 31 March and 1 April) the plan is to vaccinate more than 145,000 people, at a rate of 2,610 every half an hour in 25 special vaccination centres in towns and cities across the region.

Valencian health minister, Ana Barceló said: ‘Vaccination, the best hope to end the pandemic, is forging ahead.’ She said it was the fruit of a collective effort between teachers and the education department with the town councils working together to make the whole process function without problems. She also praised the effort of health workers for their dedication which she said went above and beyond the call of duty.

Wednesday also saw the restarting of the vaccination programme for fire-fighters, police officers, military personnel and other risk groups, aged under 60, with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

There had been much confusion during the week as the government changed its recommendation on whether those who had already been infected with Coronavirus during the past six months should have the vaccine or not. Previously the advice was, “Have the vaccine anyway’. This has now been changed to ‘postpone the vaccine’. Many believed this was because, having extended the age range for using the AstraZeneca jab to 65, there was now a shortfall of doses.

Those who have received the vaccine can download a vaccine certificate stating which they have received, when, where, which dose and the batch number. Click here for details. 

📋 Las personas vacunadas frente a la #COVID19 en la Comunitat Valenciana contarán con un justificante vacunal 💉

🔗 https://t.co/RkwXNVaEkd pic.twitter.com/3tusvcqNzk

— GVA Sanitat (@GVAsanitat) March 27, 2021

 

Meanwhile, health workers continue vaccinating over 80s with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, but have yet to begin calling those between 70 and 79. In theory, they are to be vaccinated in April but this of course depends on the supply of doses.

Many foreign nationals living in the region are concerned about when they will receive the vaccine. Some are worried because they are in the middle of the residency process and others because they have private health insurance and the vaccines are only available through the public health system. On their Facebook page the British Embassy gives further advice on the issue.

Lowest coronavirus rates in Spain

While the rate of Covid-19 infections in Spain is rising, the Valencia region now has the lowest rate in the country, and is the only region in the ‘low risk’ category 

This week there have been 964 new  infections in the region, down from last week’s 1,039. There have been 1,644 all-clears, similar to last week’s 1,621. There have also been a further 73 deaths, slighter more than last week when there were 64. There have been 45 new outbreaks, 31 of those from socialising, 10 work-related and just 4 related to education.

Hospitalisations have dropped and as of Friday there were 450 people in the region’s hospitals, compared to 500 last week. The number of people needing intensive care is also significantly down at 100, compared to last week’s 145.

Erectionary confectionery

The latest dessert shop to open in the heart of Valencia’s old town has been causing quite a stir, not because of miniscule portions or avant-garde décor, but the shape of its waffles. La Pollería, in Calle Caballeros, serves phallic shaped gofres, complete with suggestive two-tone icing. The eatery arrived in Valencia, just a few metres from Plaza de la Virgen and the Palau de la Generalitat, at the end of February, having already caused a furore in Madrid when the first branch opened in December 2019.

It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but most days there are long lines of people queueing up to try a pollofre (which might be loosely translated as a ‘willaffle’ or a ‘dickaffle’).

Fourth-year medical student, Lucia Cubells, went along this week with her friends to see what all the fuss was about. They agreed that the phallic waffles were delicious, if a little pricy at €4.30 each, but that the waiters were very entertaining.

Would you try one? Let us know! One thing’s for certain, waffles will never be the same again.

Click here for all reports on Coronavirus in Spain and for specific reports related to Covid-19 Vaccinations

Click here for all our reports from the Valencia Region