Formentera restricts movement onto and off island

foto 2021 sortides restringidesConsell de Formentera president Alejandra Ferrer and Balearic government spokeswoman Pilar Costa announced a sealing off of the island from tomorrow, 16 January. Arrivals and exits will be limited, with permission restricted to individuals who can demonstrate travel is work- or medical-related or for other authorised motives.

President Ferrer said the measures aimed not only to protect Formentera residents but also to form a common front and collaborate to keep Eivissa and Formentera’s health services from collapse. “It’s crucial we make it to summer on the most stable footing possible if we want local tourism to recover”, said the premiere, asserting, “An appropriate response now is essential to smooth vaccination operations, which will be key to tackling the pandemic and getting things back to normal”.

The president added that the option currently available was to activate tier 4 restrictions, which would entail shutting down all cafés, bars and restaurants and prohibiting social contacts, or adopt measures to enable a continuation of tier 3 protocol. Ferrer said the latter would only work if infection numbers stayed at their current level. “As we know, things can change extremely quickly”, she said.

Though the epidemiological situation on Formentera today is better than on the rest of the islands, President Ferrer insisted the overall picture was far from rosy. “We’re asking islanders once again to be responsible and collaborate”, she said. “In the weeks ahead we have to keep our interactions to an absolute minimum if we want to return to relative stability, both on the island and further afield.”

Special controls at Formentera port
Local law enforcement will be performing controls at the island’s ferry terminal and at the Eivissa harbour as needed. President Ferrer asked the Civil Guard to collaborate with Formentera Local Police and representatives of municipal government stationed at the port to apprise people of the new restrictions.

The Consell de Formentera information switchboard (971.32.10.87) will be reactivated as well, with personnel monitoring cases to ensure that new arrivals self-isolate and keep contact to an absolute minimum. Other recommendations include:

- Avoid even authorised travel between islands, prioritising remote work and postponing travel whenever possible.
- Refrain from face-to-face business, encouraging virtual gatherings instead.
- Reduce social and family gatherings.
- Keep household bubbles limited.
- Respect safety measures (masks, social distancing, hygiene, ventilation...).
- Prioritise outdoor activities and gatherings.
- Respect tier 3 public health protocol.
- If you think you have been in close contact with an infected individual or if you believe you have symptoms, SELF-ISOLATE and inform your employers if you are working.

Quarantining is required in the following cases:
If you have tested positive for Covid-19
If you have not yet been tested
If you are awaiting test results
If you have had close contact with someone who has tested positive

The new measures will remain in place until 30 January at the earliest, with documentation required to accredit the following essential travel:

a) Visits to healthcare centres, hospitals or veterinary clinics.
b) Work-related travel.
c) Travel to school, university or other educational centres.
d) Return to domicile or family residence.
e) Care for the elderly, minors, people with disabilities or at-risk individuals.
f) Travel to financial and insurance institutions.
g) Mandatory or urgent appearances before public, legal or notarial institutions.
h) Renewals of permits and official documents, or other administrative formalities that cannot be postponed.
i) Official exams that cannot be postponed.
j) Instances of force majeure or other essential situations. Duly accredited travel to and from ports and airports is also permitted, as is travel to certain federated sporting events.
k) Any other similar and duly accredited activity.

Posters have also been printed to inform islanders of the new rules.

15 January 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera