News
Covid update
Covid passports became mandatory for access to hospitality and nightlife throughout Andalucía on December 20 . The measure introduced by the Junta de Andalucía will remain in place until January 15 .
The Superior Court of Justice of Andalucía ( TSJA ) based in Granada agreed to the Junta ’ s request to introduce the temporary requirement because , it said , it met the requirements of proportionality , necessity and suitability . The decision was taken after a previous request was denied two days earlier because its wording meant that workers would also have to produce the passport .
As the measure was introduced , the incidence in Covid infections in Málaga was showing a sharp rise , at 312.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants , although there were seven times fewer Covid sufferers in local hospitals . The news in the week immediately before Christmas lead to reports of cancelled bookings at restaurants across the region .
On December 17 , Málaga became one of five provinces in Andalucía where the Covid alert was raise to Level 1 , but without setting limits on capacity or opening hours in shops , hospitality , nightlife and other activities . Mandatory mask-wearing at open-air events , plus other requirements for businesses , also remain in effect until January 15 .
Earlier last month , the Health Authority in Andalucía reported that 68 medical staff at Málaga ’ s University Regional Hospital had tested positive for Covid . By December 10 , the total infected has risen to 96 , although none needed to be admitted to hospital . Further outbreaks were confirmed in the Hospital ’ s Neurosurgery Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine departments in mid- December .
It is thought the contagion could have started during nursing exams in late November or at a “ social ” event on December 1 attended by 173 people . The Authority said all who were infected had displayed mild symptoms and all had had antigen tests or the third , booster shot . Staff at other public and private hospitals in the region were then advised not to attend Christmas parties .
By the middle of December , Andalucía was registering 3,110 new cases of the virus in 48 hours , the highest figure for four months . The province of Sevilla recorded the most cases , followed by Málaga , Cádiz and Granada . Eighty per cent of those over 70 had received their third Covid-19 vaccination by then , as had 46 per cent of those aged over 60 .
The Junta called on people to act “ responsibly ” over the festive period but ruled out suspending meals and dinners , provided that basic measures are observed , including limiting capacity , holding functions in open spaces and keeping a safe social distance .
Child murders
A Belgian man was last month sentenced to 50 years in jail for the murders of his two young children while his wife was ordered to spend 25 years in a psychiatric ward . A court in Valencia heard how the couple ’ s three-year-old son and five-year-old daughter were found buried in March 2019 . Post-mortems showed that both had been killed by repeated blows to the head .
Family tragedy
Two men died in Sevilla on December 15 following a dispute over an inheritance . One is reported to have fired a shotgun at his brotherin-law who died on the spot , before attempting suicide and dying later despite medical assistance . Local reports from the town of El Viso del Alcor say the two men lived in adjoining properties .
Power tax
The government has extended its tax reduction on power bills until April . During 2021 , the IVA ( VAT ) on electricity was reduced from 21 % to 10 %, the tax of 7 % on electricity generation was suspended and the special electricity tax received by the autonomous communities was lowered . Meanwhile , the price of power on the wholesale markets has continued to break all-time high records .
Disgruntled shooter
A man who opened fire inside a Securitas office in Tarragona last month is reported to have been a disgruntled former employee . Four of his former employees were injured , one seriously . Police cornered the 45-year-old suspect , a Romanian national , in an abandoned farmhouse 20 kilometres outside the city .
Wanted man
In a joint operation with forces in France and Belgium , police in Barcelona detained an alleged leading drugs trafficker who is wanted internationally . Moroccan national Fikri Amellah was arrested in a dawn raid on his apartment on December 14 . He is accused of running one of the largest wholesale hashish operations in Spain which imported 4.3 tonnes of hashish and 1.8 tonnes of cocaine this year .
Digital nomads
Spain has announced tax cuts to “ attract and retain international and national talent .” Foreigners employed by businesses in their own countries but working from their permanent homes in Spain will be able to take advantage of a non-resident tax status with lower rates for five years . So-called “ digital nomads ” have increased in numbers since the pandemic forced many businesses to change their ways of working
Quiet volcano
The volcano on La Palma which erupted on September 19 fell silent in mid- December with no significant emission of lava or gases , and no earthquakes . However , scientists are cautious about declaring the end of the event which has devastated over 1,200 hectares of land and also destroyed around 3,000 buildings , including homes , commercial , agricultural and industrial facilities . Last month , Spain ’ s PM Pedro Sánchez announced further aid to support the island ’ s reconstruction and recovery .
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