San Sebastián Coronavirus Update

Well, hello!

I’m coming back to edit this page, as things have really evolved. After a slightly carefree summer, all of Europe is exploding again with coronavirus cases.

You can read the first section below to see the most up-to-date information, and then if you are curious as to more information or how things were back before summer, continue reading below.

San Sebastián Coronavirus November 2020

We are currently under the strictest measures we have had since May. They are expected to be lifted for December and holiday time.

OBLIGATORY MASKS IN EUSKADI

It is obligatory to wear a mask at all times. As of early November, that goes for activities that used to be exempt from mask wearing, such as exercising. Even when going on a jog, you must have your mask on. Not wearing one will result in a fine of up to €100.

Restaurant & Bars closed

All restaurants and bars are closed, open only for takeaway.

curfew restrictions

There is a curfew in place of 10pm. Everyone that doesn’t have a work- or emergency-related excuse must be home by 10pm.

Municipality closings

We are not allowed to leave San Sebastian without a valid excuse.

San Sebastián Coronavirus may 2020

Quarantine is over and I am finally back here on the blog. I have plenty of pending posts, which I will be updating as fast and furiously as I can to get them on here. I know a lot of my readers are American and cannot visit at the moment, but my hope (as it has always been) is that this blogs serves not just to plan real vacations but as inspiration for armchair travel, as well.

That said, I thought it would be fitting for my first post in a while to be about the situation here in San Sebastián post-quarantine, especially as I am receiving a number of emails asking about this subject. As you may know, we were on lockdown for around two months here in Spain. It was quite the experience, as here in Spain people took it very seriously. Now things have gradually returned back to what the government is calling the “new normal”, so let me break it down for you.

OBLIGATORY MASKS IN EUSKADI

As of today, it is obligatory to wear a mask at all times. That means from the second you leave your room/apartment/house, to when you are about to raise a pintxo to your mouth, you must have your mask on and be covered up. Exempt activities include running, smoking, eating, drinking, and laying on a towel on the beach. Not wearing one will result in a fine of up to €100.

New Cases

New areas of cases are popping up, predictably, across Spain. As of now, there are over 100 centers of transmission across the peninsula. In Gipuzkoa and its capital San Sebastián, contagion levels are back to April levels, which is quite scary. There have been cases in 18 towns across the province, and just Tuesday 41 new cases were registered. This Monday, July 13, there were 0 cases in San Sebastián. Tuesday, July 14, there were 10. The other affected towns in Gipuzkoa include: Tolosa (8), Getaria (3), Eibar (3), Ibarra (2) Beasain (2), Zizurkil (2) and one each in Villabona, Pasaia, Ormaiztegi, Lizartza, Lezo, Legorreta, Hondarribia, Eskoriatza, Deba, Oiartzun and Segura.

San Sebastián Pintxo Bars Post-Coronavirus

By this time, even the bars slowest to open have raised their persiana, as they say. I have found just a few bars (such as Motrikes in Bilbao) that have not yet reopened but have not declared themselves closed forever, either. So how on earth are people able to “do” pintxos in this new atmosphere? Bars have come up with as many “solutions” as there are different pintxos. Some of my favorites? Square panes of glass that hang from the ceiling, perpendicular to the bar, every two or three feet, to create little feeding stalls. Big glass vitrines that show off the pintxos as if they were beautiful cakes. Everyone has opted to cover pintxos, whether in the same old vitrine they had from back in the day, when the town hall forbade pintxos out in the open air, or on glass cake stands, or in square cubes.

People are not maintaining social distancing in pintxo bars at busy times. However, the bars are markedly less busy these days. The town hall has loosened restrictions on terraces, so there is more outdoor seating, spreading out wide across the sidewalks.

Some bars have closed forever, unfortunately. Some of the victims of COVID-19 in San Sebastián have been El Cohete (Gros), Apitxin (Loyola), Irrintz (Old Town), Aitzgorri (Gros), El Bulli (Aiete), and Sakona (Gros) among others. (If anyone is interested in opening a pintxo bar with me, shoot me a line).

San Sebastián Beaches Post-Coronavirus

You can visit the beaches in San Sebastián—most of the time. There are moments, on weekends and when high tide coincides with the busy time of day, that the beaches La Concha and Ondarreta have been closed due to reaching capacity. There is an application that can tell you the state of any beach across Euskadi. You can download and consult the app here.

You must wear your mask to the beach. With the new mask law, you are allowed to take the mask off when you are lying on your towel, sunbathing. However, if you want to, say, walk along the shore, you have to do so with a mask.

Travel to San Sebastián Post-Coronavirus

Flights have been reduced greatly in number. If you land in Spain from an international flight, you will be required to fill out a form and present the QR code generated to the authorities. As of this week, temperature controls are being taken on some local transit, such as the Euskotren, and masks are obligatory when aboard. Some bus lines are reduced or cancelled; I have found them to be much less crowded than usual.

Other FAQs about Coronavirus in Spain

Here are a few questions you might have about coronavirus:

How are locals treating foreigners?

I haven’t seen or heard of any animosity towards visitors at this time. Perhaps the mask is creating an atmosphere less conducive to making friends, but at the same time I believe that is counterbalanced by the grateful attitude of restaurant owners and tour operators for those who are here, out and spending money.

When will borders to Spain open for Americans?

I wish I knew. My guess is when numbers stop increasing in the USA, the government will aim to allow Americans to enter as soon as possible.

Did I leave you with more questions than answers? Comment here and I will try to help!

I will update this same post as things change, adding information and any questions you may have as I have it.