President Alejandra Ferrer explains enforcement of new emergency orders

Foto 2020 AF compareixencaConsell de Formentera premiere Alejandra Ferrer gave a press conference and open address to explain the latest round of public health measures and nighttime mobility restrictions stemming from the central government’s newest invocation of emergency powers. After speaking the president took questions from media representatives and from regular islanders who had sent WhatsApp messages to the Formentera Department of Citizen Participation.

President Ferrer explained that yesterday’s declaration of a new state of emergency meant people across Spain would see their movement restricted from 11.00pm to 6.00am. The Consell has already called for a 12-midnight start on Formentera provided the local public health situation remains stable.

Saturday saw the local adoption of a host of additional measures that involved loosening existing restrictions, and Ferrer asserted those changes would remain effective barring a worsening of the situation. Social and family gatherings are limited to ten people indoors and twenty outdoors. Parks have also been opened and terraces have seen capacity increased.

“The current situation is favourable but we must be extremely prudent. Today things are O.K. and in a couple of weeks they good go south, so we need to be prudent and humble with our requests”, Ferrer said. She also called on islanders to show solidarity with other Spanish territories in less favourable situations, reminding them that Formentera shares its health department with Eivissa: “Formentera patients will be at risk too if Can Misses Hospital hits saturation”.

Ferrer indicated the weeks ahead would see local leaders advocating understanding of Formentera’s distinct features and needs, in terms not just of public health, but of social and economic factors as well. As far as decision making goes, Ferrer offered that “too early is better than too late” — a strategy she said had remained unchanged since the first wave of the pandemic.

“We are now in the midst of the second wave”, Ferrer told islanders. The majority of new cases can be traced to festive encounters and leisure: gatherings with family or friends — particularly at night, when inhibitions subside and people tend to be more relaxed. “We all want to be able to gather again as usual”, said the president, “but when we do that we endanger ourselves and those we love. If we want to be able to come together again, today we need to keep our distance, we need to wear masks and avoid contact with people outside our stable core”.

“Winter’s coming and with it other ailments like the flu and respiratory afflictions which, combined with the coronavirus, can become very dangerous and aggravate symptoms no matter how old the patient is.”

“If we take care of each other we’ll enjoy more day-to-day freedoms like going to school, working and maintaining social relations in limited groups. With the arrival of cold weather we’ll be using indoor spaces more, making the virus’s spread more likely, so Formentera will be staying home at night. We’ll do it knowing that we may be subject to restrictions but we’re still able to lead mostly normal lives.” Ferrer called for islanders to be responsible and respect rules, “not least because we know the alternative to our current situation: stricter measures”.

Click here to see President Ferrer’s full address.

26 October 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera