Measures Adopted by the Catalan Government to Face the COVID-19 Pandemic

Measures adopted by the Catalan Government to face the COVID-19 pandemic

Updated: 12/6/2020

Content

00. Introduction ...... 3 01. Department of Economy and Finance ...... 4 02. Department of Presidency ...... 9 03. Department of Foreign Affairs, Institutional Relations and Transparency ...... 14 04. Department of Home Affairs ...... 20 05. Department of Education ...... 26 06. Department of Health ...... 28 07. Department of Territory and Sustainability ...... 31 08. Department of Culture ...... 32 09. Department of Justice...... 34 10. Department of Labour, Social Affairs and Family ...... 40 11. Department of Enterprise (Business) and Knowledge ...... 51 12. Department of Digital Policy and Public Administration ...... 58 13. Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food ...... 63

Independent Regulatory Authority 14. Independent Regulatory Authority: the Catalan Audio-Visual Council ...... 68

00. Introduction

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Catalonia has adopted a series of measures trying to

reduce the effect of the crisis on health, economy and social aspects. Throughout the government’s departments, there has been an effort to allow flexibility and cut red tape for many administrative procedures.

Specific measures can be found online at the

following address: General information for mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.

The website regularly updates all the information concerning the pandemic in Catalonia.

Twice a day, the president, vice-president,

and Minister for Health, Home Affairs and Presidency hold meetings to evaluate the situation and propose measures to mitigate the effects of COVID-19.

The measures included in this document are classified according to the different

departments of the Government of Catalonia and the moment of the crisis at which they have been adopted: emergency phase (March – April 2020) and recovery phase (April – June 2020) .

01. Department of Economy and Finance

Measures adopted in the Financial assistance for self- emergency phase employed workers €7.5m has been allocated to self- Tax measures employed workers economically . A moratorium on the deadlines for the affected by COVID-19. The aid can be payment and self-settlement of some up to €2,000 for self-employed taxes (namely the Government of workers who prove a drastic and Catalonia’s own taxes as well as involuntary reduction in their turnover. Spain’s taxes “ceded” to regional They need to prove that they are governments) until the end of the registered in activities that health state of alarm. authorities have decreed the closure . The suspension and interruption of of and do not have other sources of deadlines for management, income. It plans to benefit about 4,500 inspection and collection procedures. self-employed workers. More information. . A moratorium on payment until October 2020 of the tax on stays in tourism establishments, which Ensure payment of public companies were supposed to pay in procurement April 2020. To ensure that companies working for . The elimination of taxes related to the Government of Catalonia maintain individual waste management and a their employment even though they regulation for reducing the tax on cannot provide services effectively due industrial and construction waste by to COVID-19. The Catalan Government 50% will be put in place. will pay the wages and expenses of . The reduction of the water rate for insurance policies to workers. This domestic users and economic includes cleaning contracts, transport to activities (from 1 April 2020 until 31 school and school meals, special May 2020) by 50%. Vulnerable education centres, surveillance, and families, or those affected by COVID- work and service contracts awarded by 19, will be able to apply for social the Government of Catalonia and its benefits and pay nothing for this public sector. concept. More information.

Flexibilisation of administrative Notify suspension and reduction procedures of working hours online Procurement boards may meet without Creation of a dossier for temporary face-to-face attendance, while employment regulation by COVID-19, respecting the transparency required by which justifies the closures protected by the Law on Public Sector Contracts. legal rules as well as the closures that have been determined by other administrations, and also those that Liquidity line for SMEs and self- have to be closed due to lack of supplies employed (bank guarantees; or due to isolation by the health €750m) authorities. Both suspension and The ICF (Catalan Institute of Financing), reduction of working hours can easily be which is the public financial institution done online. owned by the Government of Catalonia, and Avalis of Catalonia guarantee 80% of the loans given by financial institutions to Catalan SMEs and self- Measures adopted in employed workers who have liquidity the recovery phase problems because of COVID-19. Companies who apply for loans under Business activity flexibility in the this scheme cannot lay off workers. waste management field More information. A 50% reduction of the industrial waste

tax and the construction waste tax Culture liquidity loans (10 MEUR) during the months of April 2020 and May Loans to help cultural companies 2020. The fees associated with the affected by COVID-19 deal with liquidity telematics processing of waste constraints. More information. documents and in the register of people producing waste in Catalonia have been 100% discounted. Waste bonds for non- Moratorium of rents hazardous waste managers have been A moratorium on the rents of public abolished, a measure that could mean housing and commercial spaces the release of about €40m. More administered by the Catalan Habitat information. Agency starting in April 2020. Around

20,000 families will benefit. Economic benefit for foster

children

Implementation of an emergency

5 financial benefit for the foster care of Search for COVID-19 measures children involuntarily separated from and aid their family due to medical treatments or The search for measures and aid for isolation measures that affect their COVID-19 is a tool aimed at companies parents. When emergency and self-employed people. The tool circumstances so require, children generates a Q&A session. The result of between the ages of 6 and 12 can the questionnaire is a report of the receive benefit. The amount of the measures, grants or subsidies that may benefit is €326 for children from 0 to 9 correspond to each one. Information on years and €362 for children from 10 to the requirements and the necessary 12 years, although these amounts can documents are provided together with be increased due to disabilities of the direct access to the application process child, the number of foster children or when it becomes available. More other circumstances that require special information. dedication. More information.

Grants for the environmental third Additional deferrals in the sector payment of the water fee €600,000 has been allocated as direct The self-assessments of the water tax aid to associations and foundations of are carried out by the supply entities, the environmental third sector affected which must pass them on to the bills of by COVID-19, to ensure the continuity of their subscribers. These entities, both its activity aimed at protecting and public and private, are implementing improving the environment in Catalonia. measures to boost the liquidity of the self-employed and SMEs, postponing either billing or payments until the state Subsidies for the tourism sector of alarm finishes. For this reason, an €3.5m has been allocated as subsidies interest-free deferral of the part of the for professionals and micro-enterprises self-assessments of suppliers that in the tourism sector affected by the corresponds to invoices for self- health crisis and who are in any of the employed workers and SMEs deferred following categories: by the entities themselves, for a . Tourist accommodation maximum period of six months is establishments: hotels, apartments, provided. Hotel establishments and campsites and rural tourism campsites will pay the water tax for the establishments. water they consume until 31 December 2020, provided that the consumption is . Tourist mediation companies. greater than six cubic meters per month. . People or companies that contribute More information. to the dynamism of tourism and

promote stays all over Catalonia. . Qualified tour guides. More information.

Credit line for the sports sector €10m has been allocated as loans to help sports entities affected by COVID-

19 deal with liquidity constraints.

Urgent measures: shock plan for Emergency benefit for basic people, companies and territory expenses 59 MEUR will be allocated to a shock €20m has been allocated as emergency plan. The set of measures focuses on aid of €200 per household (a one-off working people who have been payment). The money must be used to financially affected by the health crisis buy food, pharmacy, and other basic and groups at risk, self-employed and supplies. The aim is to help the small businesses to resume activity and economic sustainability of families in a maintain productive capacity and jobs, situation of economic vulnerability as a cooperatives and companies in the result of COVID-19. This emergency aid social economy and local is for self-employed and employed administrations to strategically plan people with family obligations who have economic reactivation based on the suffered a reduction of more than 30% analysis of the needs of the territory. of their income due to COVID-19. More The final aim is to palliate the social and information. work-related consequences of the sanitary crisis in Catalonia. There is also €70m aid for companies affected a fund for school parents associations by COVID-19 (AMPA) and other businesses that provides dining services to schools, The Catalan Institute of Finances (ICF) whose activity has been stopped due to and the European Commission, with the the COVID-19. In total, it expects to support of the Ministry of Vice directly benefit 1,500 companies, as Presidency and Economy, have well as 4,300 people working directly launched ‘ICF Eurocrèdit COVID-19’, a and thousands more indirectly. More new financing line for SMEs affected by information. COVID-19. With an initial endowment of

€70m, it will be fully supported by the EU.

3.9 MEUR to promote projects in The Catalan Tax Office (ATC) will the social and cooperative help citizens file their personal economy income tax returns during The Catalan Government has agreed to confinement allocate 3.9 MEUR to finance unique The Tax Agency will contact, through a projects for socio-economic reactivation free telephone, with people who need to due to the COVID-19 crisis. This line is receive personalized assistance. aimed at cooperative and social economy companies that generate Webinars to Catalan SMEs about employment through the creation of new European funds business projects, business lines, The Catalan Government has created a companies, markets and at the same channel where users can learn about time take advantage of strategic European funds regarding the COVID- opportunities in the sector of activity or 19 pandemic. More information. territory.

7.3 MEUR to financial aid for the A viewer to consult the logistics and transport sector emergency contracts awarded by between 2020 and 2021 the Government of Catalonia during the COVID-19 The Government of Catalonia provides funding for the promotion of The General Directorate of Public decarbonisation of fleets, aid for Procurement has designed an investment in computer technology, interactive tool that allows checking data training and professional associations, of public contracts in execution awarded the establishment of a working group on by the Government of Catalonia and its sectoral tax plans and toll Public Sector, through the emergency compensation. procedure, on the occasion of the health crisis generated by the COVID-19. This viewer allows obtaining updated Creation of a Commission for the information on the object, the elaboration of the Plan for contracting authority, the amount and economic recovery and social the winner of each of these contracts protection (CORECO) formalized since 12 March 2020. The Commission will be advised by a technical committee. Further, it sets six work groups (local administration, social protection, research, digital development, and green agenda).

02. Department of Presidency

Measures adopted in economic recovery and social protection, will build on the ‘Decalogue the recovery phase for the socioeconomic recovery for the municipalities of Catalonia’ (recently Financial support to local presented by municipal entities and administrations available here). The main objective of this table is to create a space for The Secretariat of Local constant engagement and Administrations and Relations with coordination between all public Aran has advanced 61 MEUR (50% of administrations. More information. the Catalan Local Cooperation Fund) to strengthen budget liquidity of local administrations in Catalonia. The Investment policies for local allocation of these funds has been as authorities follows: 18 MEUR to County Councils, In the context of COVID-19, the 43 MEUR to Town Halls and €181.000 Catalonia’s government will continue to Decentralized Municipal Entities. executing investment policies for local The secretariat has also launched a administrations through the different specific funding stream to cover the programmes that can be planned and costs related to COVID-19. The main mainly through the Single Works and goal of these actions is to strengthen Services Plan (PUSOC), which is key local administrations structures and for the economic recovery and help them establish social and territorial revitalization. This plan, emergency support measures. which was stalled because of the state of emergency, will soon enter the Creation of a dialogue table with resolution phase. A 5-year multiannual local and provincial authorities funding agreement with an amount of 250 MEUR has been reached. It is In order to drive the social and important to highlight a specific funding economic recovery from COVID-19 stream with 90 MEUR for Town Halls, and support economic sectors in Decentralized Municipal Entities and difficulties, the Government of Local Councils with less than 5,000 Catalonia has created a ‘bilateral table inhabitants. Local authorities have of dialogue’ together with submitted 2,575 applications. representatives from Catalan municipalities and provinces. This dialogue table, which is part of the recently created Commission for the 9

Involvement of regional Support Olympic athletes authorities in de-confinement Exceptional measures to support the measures postponement of the 2020 Tokyo One of the main priorities of the Olympic Games for the 530 Government of Catalonia has been to competitors included in the high- guarantee the participation of Local performance programme, including Authorities in the decision-making extra 9 MEUR to guarantee its process related to de-confinement continuity during 2021. measures, adapting them to the different sectorial and territorial realities.

SECRETARIAT OF SPORTS

Measures adopted in the emergency phase Measures adopted in Flexibilisation of deadlines the recovery phase Immediate measures regarding grants and their due justification: suspend Updated set of prescriptions deadlines (with no effect whatsoever concerning physical activity and on contract suspensions or practice by elite, professional, terminations); provision of finance to high-performance or federation beneficiaries needing it; any other measure to avoid damage for the sports beneficiaries derived from any other Different measures if: procedural aspect of grants. Adapt . The sport disciplines or practices at open calls for grants accordingly: to stake are considered of national accelerate availability of resources interest by Spain's Higher Council independently from budgetary for Sports, or approval process; suspend deadlines . The sports are regulated by for the submission of accompanying federations not covered by point 1 or documents for those sports entities having received 80% or more of their . It involves top professional leagues operative grants; analyse and prepare (1st and 2nd division for Football, new calls to support local councils and ACB league for basketball). sports entities affected by COVID-19. Usage of sports facilities will continue

10 to be practically impossible and departments and other institutions. measures of prevention and distancing will continue to apply. There will be additional restrictions in sports involving animals (e.g. horses, where Measures adopted in previous appointments will be needed, the recovery phase and no other human presence will be allowed during the exercises) and high speeds (skating, cycling, which require Increase in hours of help offered a 10-metre distance instead of 2 at the helpline for victims metres). There has been an increase in hours of help offered by helpline professionals for victims of gender-based violence. CATALAN WOMEN’S INSTITUTE There has also been an intensification of the helpline’s promotion by Measures adopted in the broadcasting information on it in emergency phase different media across the region since the 19 March 2020.

Campaign against gender Intensification of phone and violence emails contacts Launching of a campaign to facilitate access to a helpline for women unable The Information and Attention to call for help or write to services due Services for Women, which usually to being confined with the perpetrator. attend people on a face-to-face basis, on top of phone calls and emails, have . The permanent telephone service been working hard to maintain all for women in situations of gender- services only through phone calls and based violence has been emails (and on-site in case of strengthened and complemented emergency). with a WhatsApp chat with the aim of ensuring no woman is neglected during confinement. More Calls against sexist violence information. have increased by 88% during . A new section has been introduced confinement to the website, displaying the The number of phone calls regarding services that are available for gender-based violence during the last women experiencing gender-based two weeks of the confinement has violence during lockdown, from all been the highest of the entire period. the different government Between 16 March and 30 April, the

11 number of services provided has to make sure that gender reached the total of 2,173 calls, an mainstreaming is on the agenda, increase of 88% compared to the regarding actions for the protection of services provided between January public health, to secure children’s and February the same year, and an schooling and towards caring for the average of 47 daily calls compared to most vulnerable and at risk. an average of 25 before the confinement. The following figure Informative materials with outlines the 88% increase. Monday 20 April had 76 calls, the maximum of the recommendations, services and period. new measures to help dealing with gender-based violence A series of informative documents with recommendations, services and new measures to help to deal with gender- based violence during the crisis are available for women in situation of gender-based violence, people from

their immediate environment or Activation of the Intervention professionals dealing with gender- Service for Urgent Crisis based violence: Regarding the Intervention Service for . Recommendations for identifying a Urgent Crisis, which is activated when situation of gender-based violence there is a femicide, to give . Recommendations for women in comprehensive care to those situations of gender-based violence surrounding the victim; it has been activated successfully since the . Recommendations for women who lockdown period started (only once so suffer gender-based violence and far). do not live with the aggressor . Recommendations for women who Work group to study how suffer gender-based violence and children are being affected by live with the aggressor the COVID-19 crisis . Guide to aid for social protection The Observatory for the Rights of and economic recovery Children has created this group, which is included in the Plan for Children’s Progressive and Controlled Transition out of Isolation. The Catalan Women’s Institute has presented proposals to try

‘#AgafaElGuant’. Children and situations of gender-based violence young people free from sexist have participated in an online training violence on aid and resources within the framework of COVID-19. A campaign under the baseline ‘#AgafaElGuant’ has been launched to increase the protection and safety of A pilot project is launched to children, teenagers and young citizens support practices of local from gender-based violence arising professionals that assist women from the COVID-19 crisis. The aim is in situations of gender-based that children and young people can violence identify the manifestations of violence they may suffer, showing them The project is organized by the Catalan resources and promoting a virtual Women’s Institute for the support space and a collective sorority municipalities or counties and the care that puts an end to their isolation. services for women (SIAD). The objectives of the ‘Workshop to Accompany, Assist and Recover women in situations of gender-based violence in SIAD’ are the following: . Incorporating strategic perspectives as a tool to tackle gender-based

violence.

. Presenting tools to incorporate Professional training to improve professional assertiveness in care for women victims of tackling gender-based violence. gender-based violence in the . Identifying personal limits in context of the social crisis of professional practice. COVID-19 . Reviewing roles and functions A series of three trainings sessions on within the framework of the territorial ‘Aid and resources for women who area of reference, in tackling have suffered gender-based violence’ gender-based violence. have been launched, aimed at . Detecting symptoms and effects of supporting the work of professionals in Burnout Syndrome and Trauma gender-based violence care units in Syndrome as risk factors in the context of the health, social and professionals working to address economic crisis. gender-based violence. In the first edition of the course, 150 care professionals for women in

03. Department of Foreign Affairs, Institutional Relations and Transparency

Measures adopted in the strengthen cross-border cooperation through its main programmes. The emergency phase General Assembly of the Euroregion Pyrenees Mediterranean agreed to Identify and share best practices modify its 2020 working plan and Through its delegations abroad, the annual budget to identify lines of action Government of Catalonia has to cope with COVID-19 consequences. identified best practices abroad to The government actively collaborates learn and apply those measures, which with several European and are proving to be most effective. Mediterranean networks, such as the Four Motors for Europe, CRPM-CIM

and Mediterranean Cooperation Support of Catalans abroad Alliance, to exchange good practices The Department has been and deliver common analysis of the coordinating and helping Catalans measures to be taken at EU level. abroad who are attempting to return home by providing up to date information on restrictions, information on administrative obligations in Measures adopted in different countries, among many other the recovery phase initiatives. The Department has provided aid to over 2,800 people Cross-border and interregional since COVID-19 started. cooperation

The Working Community of the Strengthening of the territorial Pyrenees, under the Presidency of the cooperation instruments and Government of Catalonia has networks launched a questionnaire to analyse The Working Community of the the consequences of the pandemic. Pyrenees, under the Presidency of the The results of this exercise identify an Government of Catalonia, has created Action Plan for recovery that includes a COVID-19 working group to major initiatives in the four axes of the CTP Strategy: Climate change, Socio-

14 economic territorial development, The Mediterranean Cooperation Mobility, connectivity and accessibility Alliance, a platform which brings and territorial Governance. The together more than 200 European and exercise also identifies priorities Mediterranean territories, launched a addressed to the new EU territorial and statement calling for specific cross-border cooperation programmes and more funding for programmes. territorial cooperation in the The Euroregion Pyrenees Mediterranean, a region where the Mediterranean has launched a crisis generated by COVID-19 will COVID-19 aid Fund with a total make the balance between economic, amount of €700,000 available and social and biodiversity development open to projects and actions within the more necessary. Moreover, the CPMR five sectoral domains of the EPM has launched an open letter signed by agenda: innovation, environment, 20 European regions addressed to higher education and research, European institutions and bodies to tourism and culture. The aim of the adopt a new pact on migration and Fund is to reduce the impact of the asylum and demanding more shared sanitary crisis and to relaunch the responsibility on behalf of the economy of the EPM territories as well territories. as to foster a higher resilience capacity and a stronger cooperation between Follow up of expatriated staff the Euroregional actors to help them and aid workers from Catalan overcome the crisis. The Euroregional cooperation organisations aid Fund will last for 18 months and candidates who want to benefit from The pandemic health situation in the the COVID-19 aid Fund will have to country where the expatriated staff is apply between 8 June and 31 October placed must be analysed. If 2020. More information. repatriation is recommended, according to recommendations of The Four Motors for Europe network health authorities from this country, has set up a Working Group on staff must return and expenses COVID-19 in order to exchange good generated by the expatriated staff practices and explore possibilities for during the in-country period will be collaboration in different areas. To this eligible. date, there has been a meeting with political representatives from each region to set the ground for this collaboration and a meeting between the Environment ministers to establish common guidelines for future actions.

Flexibility of ongoing Additional funds in order to cooperation projects and respond to the COVID-19 programmes terms and pandemic adjustment of activities A reserve fund of 1.3 MEUR has been If an entity is obliged to cancel its created to subsidize international activities due to the impossibility of humanitarian actions to face the carrying them out because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund will health crisis, the entity should report it cover the areas of health, education, formally to Catalan Agency for access to water or food security, Cooperation Development (ACCD) among others, and will allow and, if need be, request a prolongation responding to the pandemic in of the activities’ implementation. countries with greater vulnerability.

Collaboration to readapt Support to the United Nations cooperation Central Emergency Response Collaboration with public Fund administrations and organisations from The ACCD continues to support the other countries we work with; and United Nations Central Emergency reformulation of collaboration with Response Fund (CERF). The support multilateral organisations to redirect started several years ago, and now fund for measures against COVID-19. ACCD has made a contribution of Meetings with cooperation, €290,000. humanitarian and emergency aid NGOs to detect potential partnerships The Advisory Council for the and actions to be carried out. Nowadays, ACCD is working on the Sustainable Development of definition of the 2020 call for funding, Catalonia (CADS) publish the adapted to the current situation. report ‘One pandemic, numerous lessons and 17 goals that we must not put in Training to face new challenges lockdown’ on cooperation On 14 April 2020, the council issued a Organisation of 3-days training (28 - 30 statement on the management of the April 2020) about Technology and new reality after COVID-19 in terms of Cooperation (Digital Organising), sustainability. According to the council, concerning the challenges of the the way out of this crisis lies in connection of social and technological curtailing degradation of nature; innovation. fostering an economy that serves

16 humanity while respecting the limits of Reflection on COVID-19 with the planet; better funding for public experts and think tanks health and social care systems, IDEES, the Center for Contemporary especially for older people; and Studies’ magazine, is curating an committed investment in research. updated section of the most relevant reports by leading think tanks and research institutions worldwide. The section features an analysis of the most relevant ideas and proposals of these reports and offers a link to them. Together with the Ministry of the Economy and the Advisory Council on Sustainable Development, IDEES Magazine has put together a series of The CADS takes part in an Open online debates to shed some light on Letter ‘Responding to COVID-19: the effects of the pandemics in six Building social, economic and different areas: the Economy, Global environmental resilience with Health, Society, Climate Change, the European Green Deal’ of the Democracy and Geopolitics. EEAC Network

On 20 April 2020, the chair of the Identification and visualisation European network of advisory councils of pools of data concerning the on Climate Change, Environment and pandemic Sustainable Development (EEAC) issued an open letter. With a call to The Secretary of Transparency and understand the link between COVID- Open Government has identified 19 and the ecosystem degradation, to several potential open data datasets increase resilience to future concerning the impact and evolution of pandemics, and to use the EU Green the COVID-19 pandemic, to help the Deal and some other EU strategic institutions, professionals and citizens instruments (such as the MFF and understand how this is affecting and Horizon Europe) to boost a social and how this will affect our lives. These economic recovery based on datasets have been published in the sustainability principles. Government’s Open Data Portal (access our COVID-19 data) and it is our goal to have all data visualised to make it easier to understand by the citizens. (See our open data COVID-19 evolution dashboard.)

how our data related to COVID-19 hosted on the Open Data Portal is being reused by citizens, data scientists and other user profiles. Access to the catalogue.

‘Jo Pregunto’: citizen

participation initiative with COVID-19 Standards, data Health Minister Alba Vergés quality and interoperability The Secretariat of Transparency and improvements Open Government (Ministry of Foreign The Secretary of Transparency and Action, Institutional Relations and Open Government is working with Transparency) and the Secretariat of Open Data Charter on the definition of Health Care and Participation (Ministry international standards in relation to of Health) have teamed up to launch COVID-19 open data, to apply these the first edition of ‘Jo Pregunto’ (I ask), standards to our health system open an initiative aimed at deepening data and make them comparable with governmental accountability and the different open data collected and transparency and allowing citizens to published by each country. We are directly address doubts and questions working to make our data accessible in to Government Representatives. Out English as well as having it published of the 341 questions registered, Health and available in the European Open Minister Alba Vergés answered the Data Portal (access our data). most voted ones, which organized in three main areas: chronic symptomatology in COVID-19 Communication and patients, PCR tests and de- transparency confinement phases. All questions The Secretary of Transparency and were public, allowing the participants Open Government has centralised and to engage in a fruitful debate around integrated, in a unique website, all the main issues and prioritize the most open data datasets and initiatives that important ones, and the exercise are available concerning the impact helped to bring forward neglected and evolution of the COVID-19 crisis, topics that had been kept out of the to have an open and transparent public agenda by mainstream media, communication with the citizens. thus helping the Government to better Moreover, we have created a diagnose the issues at stake. In the catalogue of the different examples of coming weeks, other government representatives will take part in this

18 initiative. The digital portal Transparency and Open Government, participa.gencat.cat, the Government’s the Government of Catalonia has Platform to facilitate citizen identified best practices abroad, as participation in Catalonia, hosted this well as recommendations launched by session. More information. international and European institutions and think tanks. These best practices have been delivered to the technical Website information on COVID- committee in charge of drafting the 19 and European funds COVID-19 crisis recovery plan, which The website of the European funds in will be structured based on the SDGs. Catalonia has opened a new section to gather the financial resources of the Euromediterranean relations and EU at the disposal of Catalan organizations to contain the pandemic COVID-19 and the crisis caused by the COVID- On the 25th anniversary of the 19. In addition to news and calls for Barcelona Process (1995-2020), the proposals, it will highlight the EU- Catalan Government, in collaboration funded projects in Catalonia related to with the IEMed, is promoting the the COVID-19 crisis. More information. “Dialogues of the Mediterranean +25” cycle. Within the framework of this initiative, different seminars with Support to representation in EC participation of actors from both sides committees of the Mediterranean will take place to The department has contacted all the analyse the challenges for the region representatives of Catalan at a complex time of post-COVID-19 administration in European recovery, with proposals addressed to Commission committees to analyse all the European cooperation in the the adjustments needed or introduced region. The first one of these on the work of each committee due to Dialogues will address the COVID-19 COVID-19 crisis. When necessary, the crisis as an accelerator of the department has provided specific digitalisation path in the region: support. ‘Digitalising Mediterranean small and medium enterprises: a path towards innovation development in a post- Identification of good practices COVID era’. for economic and social recovery

Through its delegations abroad, the Secretary for Foreign and European Affairs and the Secretary for

04. Department of Home Affairs

Measures adopted in the an authorised activity, the Department of Home Affairs has launched a Self- emergency phase responsible Mobility Certificate (available online). Its use is non- Enforcement of confinement mandatory, it allows for the measures: standardisation of procedures and can only be requested by police officers. In order to enforce confinement measures and reduce citizens’ mobility, Mossos d’Esquadra Update and activation of (Regional Police forces), in PROCICAT (Civil Protection Plan coordination with Local Police forces, of Catalonia) have set up police-controls all over the The Action Plan for Emergencies territory. Citizens found outside have to justify their mobility based on the related to Emerging High-Risk Transmissible Diseases (revised on 4 exceptions laid down in the Royal March 2020) is the existing plan to Decree on the State of Alarm. As a result, over the last four weeks, the manage emergencies arising from these diseases, give support to the Metropolitan Area of has experienced strategy from the Directorate General an important reduction of mobility rates of Public Health to minimise the spread (nearly 65%). of the pandemic, maintain basic services and coordinate all the actors involved in the response. (Available in Catalan.) The plan includes two Emergency Phases, which foresees specific actions depending on the severity of the situation. The first phase of the plan was activated on 12 March 2020 and it implied civil protection measures Self-responsible mobility (beyond sanitary ones) and actions to certificate guarantee the provision of basic services. Some of the decisions taken In order to help police officers in their so far include: patrolling tasks and help citizens make sure that a specific movement outside . The restriction of movements in corresponds or does not correspond to the municipalities of Igualada,

Vilanova del Camí, Santa Information on activity Margarida de Montbui and restrictions Òdena due to the amount of The Directorate General of Civil COVID-19 cases there (link to Protection has launched an online site the decision) giving citizens all the necessary . The suspension of activities in information about how to proceed in schools and universities (link to case of a COVID-19 related the decision) emergency and what is allowed or not . The coordination, support and allowed under the current information to local authorities, circumstances. It includes a FAQs which also play a role in civil page that is updated twice a day. protection measures From an organisational perspective, Gender-based violence the Steering Committee of the Plan Bearing in mind that confinement (Home Affairs and Health Ministers) is measures can lead to an increase in the maximum authority responsible for, the number of gender-based violence among others, evaluating the situation, cases, Mossos d’Esquadra has deciding on the measures and doubled efforts and intensified communication strategy and contacts with women who had prioritising basic services. It receives previously reported their cases to the assistance from the Advisory Council authorities. and the Technical Committee (Representatives and experts from Health Services, Police Forces, Civil Social media Protection, Medical Emergency Official social media accounts from the Services and other actors that analyse, Department of Home Affairs, Civil evaluate and propose actions). The Protection Units and Mossos Information and Communication Office d’Esquadra are constantly engaging coordinates and channels all the with citizens to update them on the information given to citizens and the crisis, answer their questions and Action Group (specialized bodies with explain their actions. As an example, their own resources) implements the Mossos d’Esquadra recently shared a actions and measures (health video in sign language to reach a services, police forces, civil protection, broader audience. logistical infrastructures, etc.).

Awareness-raising on the use of

112 emergency number

Due to the increasing amount of

COVID-19 related calls to the 112 and services available for them (24h emergency number instead of the 061 free telephone helpline 900 900 120; CatSalut Respon (Health Answer), the email address Department has elaborated a video [email protected] explaining the proper use and purpose and WhatsApp 671 778 540). As of this number so that the service does Mossos d’Esquadra emphasise, not collapse. This way, calls requiring judicial and police forces continue to an emergency response (ambulance, work to eradicate any kind of violence police or firefighters) can be managed and, despite the state of emergency, without delay. More information. victims are allowed break confinement to ask for help. More information.

Measures adopted in the recovery phase

Guidelines to address gender- Storytelling to celebrate Sant based and domestic violence Jordi during confinement Sant Jordi is a special festivity in Mossos d’Esquadra has published a Catalonia, when streets are full of set of action guidelines for people who people buying and offering books and could be victims of gender-based and roses. Since this year’s celebration domestic violence and who, due to could not take place in normal confinement measures, are forced to circumstances, police officers decided spend more time with their aggressor. to read children stories through their This guide includes specific advice and corporate Instagram account. Mossos action procedures for each d’Esquadra wanted to thank children vulnerability group (women, children, for their behaviour during confinement. teenagers and persons with More information. disabilities) as well as all the resources

Website with recommendations Recommendations to ensure the to better address confinement safe return of children onto the Civil Protection has launched a street website with the main Following the decision to allow children recommendations, advice and good onto the street one hour per day from practices to ensure a good 26 April 2020 onwards, Civil Protection confinement while reducing its has elaborated a document with basic negative effects. On the one hand, the information so that families know what website offers guidelines to ensure they are allowed to do. To ensure the solidarity and support among proper implementation of this measure neighbours and help those in situations and avoid huge concentrations of of vulnerability. On the other, it also people undermining social distancing offers care advice for children, people measures, the Technical Committee of with disabilities and elderly persons PROCICAT has also approved a and practical recommendations so that proposal of timeslots according to age, citizens adopt healthy and dynamic which has been sent to the Central routines. More information. Government. More information.

Distribution of masks for those Corps of Firefighters of using public transport Catalonia Following the decision on 13 April 2020 Catalan Firefighters’ action during to put an end to the restriction of labour COVID-19 focused on areas such as activity to essential services, Red logistical support to build temporary Cross and Civil Protection volunteers health infrastructures, distribution of distributed masks in public transport masks, operative support to disinfect stations and interchanges in buildings and infrastructures in critical municipalities with more than 30,000 situations and operative support in inhabitants so that citizens could go to managing multiple-victim scenarios. work safely. More information. In the Furthermore, the Corps has also following days, the remaining masks offered firefighters with nursing were distributed among nursing homes knowledge and ventilators to hospitals throughout Catalonia to offer a better all over the territory. All these actions protection to both workers and are subject to the guidelines of Health residents. More information. Authorities. More information.

Exit Strategy the competent organs within the On the 28 April, the Government of Government of Catalonia, in close collaboration with representatives from Spain adopted the ‘Plan for the the local level, are in charge of drafting Transition towards new normality’, them. Once adopted by the Technical which sets the main parameters and Committee of PROCICAT, they are instruments to return to normal life. publicly available here. This Plan, which started in 4 May, foresees four phases of two-week To explain the de-confinement process duration each. More information. to all the citizens, this official webpage When it comes to the Exit Strategy, the contains detailed information on the final decision on the move from one implications, measures in force and phase to another must come from the evolution of each one of these ‘sanitary National Ministry of Health based on a Regions’. So far, the Ministry has process of common governance with published an updated Q&A in English the Autonomous Communities. More with the implications of the different information. phases. Restrictive measures will ease In Catalonia, the Technical Committee as sanitary regions move from one phase to the other. of PROCICAT, which gathers representatives from all the actors To complement this process and raise involved in the management and awareness on the exit strategy and application of confinement measures, self-protection measures in a more presents and decides on the accessible and understandable way, proposals, which the Steering Civil Protection’s official twitter is Committee has to adopt. The constantly publishing graphic Committee is made up of the Home information on, for example, the Affairs and Health Ministers. mandatory use of masks (link), the From the end of May on, Catalonia’s recommendation of time slots for exist strategy proceeds by seven outdoors activities (link) or security measures in cafés and terraces (link). ‘sanitary regions’: Barcelona, Central Catalonia, Girona, Lleida, Pyrenees and Aran, Tarragona and Ebre. To Story telling on the Exit Strategy move from one phase to another, the On the 21 May, Police Officers from proposal has to be adopted by the Mossos d’Esquadra went live on their Committee before being handed over official Instagram and Facebook to the Central Government for the final account to read children a book called decision. ‘Ja puc sortir de casa’ (I can already When it comes to the ‘de-confinement leave home). Recently written by plans’ of the different public services Lourdes Campuzano. This book and socioeconomic sectors of activity,

24 explains children the measures and recommendations that they should follow when they go out on the street through the story of two siblings. Medical experts from the hospitals ‘Sant Joan de Déu’ and ‘Germans Tries i Pujol’ gave their advice for the elaboration of this book. More information.

05. Department of Education

Measures adopted in the Helping those in need emergency phase Adoption of urgent measures to Supporting Online Learning prevent malnutrition wherever there are children exposed to such risk Launching of an action plan to support (depending on public support to get hot distant learning, including the meals). Mobilisation of resources to distribution of 22,000 laptops with support companies delivering a.o. connection to pupils without access to transport and catering services to such equipment. It also created 600+ schools. (mostly Moodle-based, but also using

Google classroom and Microsoft Teams) environments so all education Supporting families providers can deliver virtual education. Publication of a website with guidance More information. It distributed more and support on home-schooling and than 100 pedagogical projects for this distant-learning etology, with period of confinement to all institutions subthemes such as: time spent with needing it, arranged in a searchable families; relation between families and manner (by educational level, by schools; Healthy usage of technology; subject-matter). Access to the search values, support for children; promotion engine. It also decided to grant of a healthy life. More information. unrestricted access to all educational contents of its Open Institute of Catalonia (IOC) platform. All contents Measures adopted in of IOC. the recovery phase

Cancellation of exams Adaptation of calendars The Department decided to call off (ongoing) tests for: 6th graders in primary (7 April 2020), and for joint "batxibac" The Department decided to move up (batxillerat-baccalauréat, recognised the calendar for registration to the next both in Spain and France) secondary academic year (2020-21) for all levels education completion. Likewise, it (primary, secondary, vocational) and shared guidelines on how to evaluate made all necessary arrangements for it students with learning outcomes to take place online wherever possible, acquired before and during the or in a secured manner physically (with lockdown. all hygienic measures). More

26 information. A final decision on A specific decision has been made to whether and how to return to school re-inforce alertness regarding the before the summer break has yet to be frequency of cleaning, the made. manipulation of objects, recommended vaccinations, etc. Virtual orientation days during May 2020, sessions, services Setup of a specific portal to and support to provide guidance support the emotional side of to students while choosing their going back to school having post-compulsory education path suffered the collateral It has received more than 1.6 million consequences of a lockdown visitors, as per graph below: Resources have been compiled in this website, available to all staff and to the public at large.

Check the dedicated portal here. Check the general website on educational offer here.

Re-opening of educational centres located in regions which have been moved to stage 2 out from March 2020 lock-down and

State of alarm

As per the limitation and social distancing imposed by PROCICAT plan, plannings will need to be adapted so as to allow for non-coincidence of large numbers of pupils.

As of stage 3, groups of up to 10 pupils will be able to sit in the same classroom.

06. Department of Health

Measures adopted in the dashboard and a heat map. This allowed public decision-makers and emergency phase individuals to access reliable

information to track the situation on Stop COVID-19 application real time. Furthermore, open data from On 18 March 2020, the Government of all COVID-19 tests has been made Catalonia launched an app intending to available to the public. control and detect new COVID-19 cases in Catalonia. Every patient registered with symptoms will be Temporal hospitals set up at the monitored daily (or more frequently). ‘Fira de Barcelona’ and other Thus, it will benefit both patients, who locations will get personalised feedback based To take care of stable COVID-19 on their symptoms, as well as the patients and prevent the collapse of government, obtaining real-time data hospitals, the Health Department set about the evolution and incidence of up several hospitals that could the illness in the Catalan territory. If increase bed capacity if needed. needed, a medical emergency service One of the spaces was the CEM can also be activated according to the Olímpics Vall d’Hebron, as an situation of the user. More information. extension of the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital that accommodated up to 132 patients.

Healthcare professionals were reincorporated at hospitals and tested

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, many

healthcare professionals have been Real-time data centre reincorporated into the health system, The Department of Health and the especially in Igualada Hospital, Agency of Health Quality and situated in La Conca d’Òdena (its Assessment of Catalonia (AQuAS) primary catchment area), which was released a website gathering all the the first detected COVID-19 hotspot in information about the pandemic Catalonia. From the 25 March, all situation in Catalonia including a professionals working at Igualada Hospital had been tested for COVID-

19. In addition, this centre welcomed increase the capacity of use of this 42 direct hires of new healthcare device are highly valuable. The professionals to strengthen the care in Department of Health has provided the region and 180 beds were support to initiatives such as 3D- allocated from the General Hospital of printed or other novel ventilation Catalonia specifically for patients in systems and devices, in the validation this area. More information. process at the regulatory agencies with the purpose of enabling the mass production and use in the event ‘My health’ another peak puts pressure again to An online form was made available in the need of such devices. Report by order for citizens to have easier access the Agency of Health and Quality to their files. This used to be a Assessment of Catalonia (AQuAS) on procedure that had to be done in newly approved procedures, devices person but can now be made online in and joint ventures. order to ensure that people do not need to go to a health centre in the context of the health emergency Clinical trial caused by COVID-19. This measure The Department of Health is co- was created with the intention to avoid leading a clinical trial study, which the collapse of health centres. More started in March 2020 with the aim of information. evaluating the effectiveness of a preventive strategy to reduce transmission and, therefore, the Hotels hosted mild patients with incidence of COVID-19 in the COVID-19 population during the outbreak by Hotel beds were available for hospitals COVID-19 in Catalonia. to allocate patients who had symptoms but could not isolate at their homes due to the difficulties of their environment. Healthcare professionals and social Measures adopted in health workers assisted the patients, the recovery phase who had primary care support. Healthcare professionals will receive a COVID-19 premium as Fast track validation of 3D a compensation for their printed ventilators extraordinary efforts As ventilators are a critical device to The premium will range from €350 to assist some of the patients with €1,350. 800 of these professionals COVID-19, initiatives helping to were able to stay at hotels (more than

15,000 overnight stays), opened for The e-Health site, ‘La Meva this purpose during the peak. Salut’, has been made widely available and more flexible 170,000 serological tests will be Increased availability will foster tele- performed to healthcare medicine and distance support. This professionals service has experienced a surge, with a 300% rise in new registrations, and These tests are a priority in the exit with 1,000 doctors working remotely. strategy. Permanent monitoring is More information. underway to support the differentiated de-confinement (according to the Efforts to re-instate basic epidemiological situation of each health region). ordinary activities, such as blood donations, organ

transplants, or colorectal testing 2 out of 4 temporary COVID-19 to target groups. sites are now being dismantled ER activity was down by almost 50% However, preparations are already during this crisis, but healthcare underway to face a second wave, so provision for chronic diseases was the other two sites will remain inactive maintained. but open and ready. The actions include anticipated procurement of strategic material, equipment, and Exit Strategy chemical and pharmaceutical The Health minister is part, along with substances. A still-ongoing campaign, the Home Affairs Minister, of the ‘#JoActuo’, was set up to facilitate Steering Committee that adopts the donations and has managed to gather decisions taken by the Technical individual donations, adding up to Committee of PROCICAT with regard more than 1 MEUR, a million gloves, to de-confinement measures. This millions of masks of all types, more strategy is described in the department than 10 T of hydro alcoholic gel, rental of Home Affairs section. cars and trucks and volunteer drivers, non-perishable foodstuffs, bottled water, and so on.

07. Department of Territory and Sustainability

Measures adopted in the emergency phase

Free public transport Public transport operated by the Government of Catalonia has been made free to ensure key workers who are forced to travel can do so easily.

Waste management

With reference to industrial waste, the Government of Catalonia is mitigating the impact of COVID-19 using digital tools in order to cut red tape involved in complying with the regulations relating to waste and also by forgoing the taxes involved in this process in its entirety. A regulation for reducing the tax on the industrial and construction waste by 50% will be put in place.

08. Department of Culture

Measures adopted in the justified to the total cost of the activity. emergency phase Deliver on financial commitments

In case of cancellation of any of the Increase grants, budget and strategic markets, guarantee the financial aid contribution of Department of Culture, Increase the percentage of all grants by with the aim of avoiding additional 10% to inject more liquidity into damage to the contracted companies companies and beneficiary entities. (with priority to Catalan companies), Promote, both from the Catalan mitigating the fall in hires and other Institute of Cultural Enterprises and the negative impacts for workers of the Office of Support for Cultural Initiatives, event and for external providers. subject to budget availability, specific lines of support to compensate for the Increase digitalisation loss of profits of companies and entities Increase the purchase of e-book from different cultural sectors, as long licenses to meet current demand on as it is a direct consequence of the eBiblio, which has soared over 500%. measures prevention and control of Design of a programme of activities to COVID-19 infection adopted by the promote cultural consumption on the competent authorities or bodies. Net. Support all the cultural initiatives Strengthen the line dedicated to the that seek to accompany citizens, who purchase of books by the Library live these days confined in their homes, Service of the Government of with recommendations of readings, Catalonia. Create a grant line to finance concerts, performances of all kinds, the interest generated by the lack of audio visuals, music, debates, games, first year of the loans supported by the etc. through social networks and the Government of Catalonia. internet.

Flexibilisation of deadlines and administrative procedures Support cultural activities Extension of deadlines for executing Support the celebration of one of the eligible activities (or justification most important cultural days in thereof). Grants granted during 2020 Catalonia, Sant Jordi. In agreement shall not be revoked and beneficiaries with all sectors involved, it will be will not be required a minimum rescheduled when the pandemic percentage of expenses made and allows.

Measures adopted in ICEC Line for compensation €8m the recovery phase of economic impact Anticipation of purchase of €4m books and rights for libraries Extraordinary transfers for €4m Plans to accompany a transition equipment to face up to the back to normalcy crisis

The Ministry of Culture is working on a An ongoing process of budgetary re- permanent basis with the cultural and structuring is underway, which is creative sectors to devise a programme intended to result in further resources to support re-activation of cultural and becoming available for a second wave creative activities and projects, a of direct-support lines of credit, for programme to foster activities and the liquidity and compensation. re-activation of the sector, and an audience-building and communication plan supporting this re-activation. The 5 MEUR to financial aid for monitoring and follow-up of targeted workers in the cultural sector actions (publishing, libraries, economically affected by the museums, Language policy and health crisis learning, popular culture, and so on) A one-off social benefit is granted carried out and the upcoming plans and through a non-competitive call until the programmes, as they become 5 MEUR budget is spent. The benefit, available, is possible here. which will reach a maximum of €1,024

per beneficiary, aims to alleviate the Summary of Finance actions difficulties of performing arts (first wave) professionals who, until last 6 May, ICEC (Catalan Institute of €10m were left out of access to Cultural Enterprise) & unemployment benefits from the ICF(Catalan Institute of Spanish Government. The measure Finances) Culture loans for liquidity can benefit around 6,000 professionals. Culture interest abrogations €0.35 From February to April, and also m compared to April 2019, the loss of OSIC support grants to €3m Social Security affiliation of workers in compensate for damages and losses incurred artistic and scenic activities has been OSIC (Oficina de Suport a la €2m 3.5 times higher, with a loss of 2,179 Iniciativa Cultural) support jobs in Catalonia. More information. grants to compensate for the reduction of income caused by cancellations

09. Department of Justice

Measures adopted in the having to transfer to the courts. emergency phase Religious plurality guaranteed Flexibility City councils are informed about the To avoid increasing contagion in needs related to religious plurality. facilities, more than half of the inmates Intermediation is also carried out with qualified as grade 3 (semi-open religious communities and the regime) are currently serving their availability of places in cemeteries is sentence at home. They are sleeping monitored to meet specific demand of at home daily while being controlled by religious groups. More information telematics. Before COVID-19, there here and here. were 325 grade 3 inmates at home, and now, during COVID-19, there are 955. Coronavirus and religious sphere The Directorate General of Religious Affairs has launched a webpage that concentrates all the information about coronavirus and religious affairs in: . Prevention in places of worship . Recommendation for spring’s religious festivities . Prevention in funerals and burials criteria Measures adopted in . FAQ the recovery phase ‘Dialogue and Agreement to deal Video conference service for with COVID-19' mediation detainees to testify from police programme stations A mediation programme has been Launching of a new telematics system designed and launched to deal with so that detainees can testify before conflicts that arise during the state of judges at a police station of Mossos alarm and the following six months. It d’Esquadra and local police, without is free of charge for users and

34 managed online. The programme person testing positive for COVID-19, focuses on conflicts that affect children will be placed in the prison infirmary, in and, in particular, the custody of particular the health isolation cells children, teenagers and people with specially created to this end. The disabilities as well as other inmate will be tested by health care disadvantaged groups. This measure staff and provided with a face mask. is complemented by the ‘Mediation and The surfaces and rooms of potential or COVID-19' website. confirmed cases will be properly cleaned and disinfected according to Health Department standards. New Telematic care for victims of contracts have been signed with crime is guaranteed companies specialising in disinfection. All professionals in the offices for the Personal hygiene packs for inmates victims of crime are working have been increased. electronically; interviews with victims who require support and guidance are executed over a phone call. When a court activates the service, support for victims of gender-based violence is maintained when they have to appear in court.

Economic incentives for good behaviour among minors and A hospital is set up for inmates youngsters are increasing with mild COVID-19 symptoms The scales of remuneration for minors The second floor of the nursing and young inmates have been facilities of Brians 2 prison, which was modified upwards to encourage good equipped but disused, has become a behaviour, sense of responsibility and hospital for inmates from all over positive participation in the activities Catalonia who test positive for COVID- arising from the educational project. 19 and have mild symptoms. A new More information. unit for inmates with mild symptoms for COVID-19 has also been established Placement / Treatment of in Module 4 of the Quatre Camins infected detainees prison.

An inmate showing symptoms compatible with COVID-19, or who has been in close contact with another

The conditions of the modules Prison Administration Social where admission to the Services penitentiaries are located have The Social Services branch of the been improved Catalonian Prison Service have Upon admission, if the inmate shows mobilised their teams to respond to the symptoms or expresses having been in suspension of family visits with ways to contact with someone with symptoms keep families in frequent touch with or a confirmed case, they will be detainees, introducing remote visiting, transferred to a cell to be assessed by extended telephone access and health staff who will decide whether weekly videocalls. ‘Treatment teams’, they shall be placed in a health which include social workers, isolation cell. educators, lawyers and psychologists, along with cultural mediators and

artistic monitors, are working together The Center for Reintegration to give support and information to Initiatives (CIRE) draws up a prisoners and families. More contingency plan for its partners information. CIRE has carried out individual evaluations with the collaboration of Communication client companies on the impact of the workshops, in order to guarantee the Sessions to inform about the current maximum number of jobs for inmates. restrictive measures in place inside the prisons, how to communicate with

relatives, the health protocols Workshops for the production of implemented to prevent infections and medical supplies in prison treat potential and positive cases. Production workshops continue to Addressed to groups of no more than operate although shifts have been 10 inmates of the same residential unit rearranged so that inmates from and in sufficiently sized rooms; different units do not meet in the same inmates can ask questions to staff workshop in order to prevent the about their concerns. The general spread of infection. In particular, the restrictions implemented by the workshops already working on clothing government are also explained. manufacture are now working intensively to deliver health staff Suspension of permits and clothing ordered by the Health leaves Department. All kinds of prison permits, leaves and

scheduled exits granted to inmates

(allowed for various specific activities Implementation of video in the community) have been conference service with relatives suspended until health authorities of the inmates establish that these do no longer pose All kinds of family visits have been a risk to inmates’ health. suspended until health authorities establish that they do not longer pose Representatives a risk to the inmates’ health. The possibility to bring parcels for inmates Defence lawyers have been requested into the prison has been suspended to make use of the videoconference too. To compensate for the restriction call system regularly available in bar of communications: associations all over Catalonia (one in every province). Should the visit be . The number of phone calls the indispensable, the lawyer will be inmates can make to their allowed to visit their client in a room relatives has increased from 10 with a glass partition, provided that the to 20 per week (8 minutes/call). lawyer does not present any symptoms The cost of the calls made by compatible with COVID-19. Regular those inmates without incomes visits by consulates’ representatives is covered by every prison have been suspended. If the inmate budget, also when the relatives has a need requiring the consulate live abroad, the possibility to intervention, the prison management make a collect call is always will channel it via the available means available. so that consulate support can be . In a limited number of prisons, a provided without posing a risk to the videoconference system has inmate’s health. been set up through specific software via the internet in the computer rooms. . Smartphones have been purchased and distributed among prisons so that inmates can make video calls through WhatsApp. More information.

Visits from relatives are resumed depending on the

health region

Visits from relatives to prisoners have

37 been resumed, as well as those of an purchased and located in the cells of intimate nature (vis a vis) depending the incoming inmates who will be on the health region, taking the quarantined as a precautionary appropriate protection measures to measure.The provision of cleaning and ensure the safety and health of those security services in prisons and involved (such as taking temperature, juvenile justice centres has been requiring masks, limiting the visits of increased to ensure compliance with two people simultaneously, etc.). the measures taken to deal with COVID-19. Temperature control in prisons Prisons activate temperature control at Resume of work and volunteer the entrances. More than €175,000 outings have been invested in cameras and Inmates who either worked or temperature guns to prevent the entry volunteered outside prisons, from the of visitors with fever in prisons and 11 May are able to resume their juvenile justice centres. The measure outings to work or collaborate with the will mitigate the contagion of COVID- entities. 19 that could cause the 32,000 people A new plan for hiring interns in auxiliary who enter the facilities to go see their services has been implemented, as a relatives and friends with criminal complementary action to the services convictions. already existing in centres, which

reinforces cleaning tasks that are Families call service and currently being carried out. measures for inmates

Due to the lack of financial solvency of 250 screens have been installed some inmates, and to encourage good in courts and tribunals in order behaviour of minors and young people, the Ministry of Justice will assume the to guarantee care for citizens cost of family phone calls, whether and professionals they are local or abroad, of the inmates Prevention equipment (masks and who lack financial resources. hydroalcoholic solution bottles for Economic aid to inmates has also been hands) has also been provided in increased to €20/month, and due to the compliance with the established suppression of cultural, educational sanitary measures. The provision of and sports activities at the centre, TVs cleaning and security services has have been provided to those who lack increased, following the the resources to be able to buy one. A recommendations made by the total of 160 TVs have also been Federation of European Heating,

Ventilation and Air Conditioning been determined to ensure the Associations (REHVA). operation of the following services: The Ministry of Justice facilitates more . Protection of minors and than 1,400 court proceedings by video women victims of gender call in two months. Courtrooms are violence. prepared in Catalonia for . Civil Registry. videoconference trials. €131,000 have . Actions with detainees. been invested in secure communications technology. 2,000 . Raising corpses. civil servants will be trained to manage . Modification of the shared the new computer tool. custody regime. Portable equipment has been provided to judges, magistrates, lawyers, Mediation and private law entities prosecutors and forensic doctors, in order to guarantee the electronic Exceptional measures have been continuation of their tasks. Likewise, taken to ensure the functioning of the e-justicia.cat computer system, the homeowners’ associations, technical support of the facilitators and foundations and communities, as well the wide range of equipment with as private law mediation processes. videoconferencing systems facilitate the tasks to be carried out by Publication of recommendations professionals and civil servants in the for separated parents field of the Administration of Justice. In Faced with the restriction of this regard, e-mail quotas to provincial movement, recommendations to prosecutors have been increased. parents to manage the care and Translation and interpretation service custody of their minor children are is monitored on a daily basis and has disseminated through the website of been reinforced by electronic means, the Ministry of Justice. so that both the appointment of experts and the maintenance of the language Democratic Memorial service are allowed in the judicial sphere. Continuation of the research work and compilation of information from the

Report Bank in order to make them Forensic doctors have been available to the public and the assigned on a voluntary basis to academic community and to enable perform tasks in health centres the resumption of work to identify and and hospitals. open mass graves once possible. The essential minimum services have

10. Department of Labour, Social Affairs and Family

Measures adopted in the services with a meal service, through an agreement with CaixaBank. There emergency phase will be 140,000 cards for children using the dining service and 20,000 for the Grants for the self-employed minors who are users of the socio- Launch of a grant, in the form of an educational intervention services with economic benefit, up to €20,000 for a meal service. For each family, the self-employed workers (individuals) card will be debited with the amount of who show a drastic and involuntary the daily allowance for the total number reduction in their billing as a result of of days that the closure lasts. the effects of COVID-19 on its economic activity. Protecting the elderly The Department has activated the Protecting children and inspection of social services to adolescents intervene in cases of residencies for the elderly who are at risk. More Project to assist children and information. In addition, it has adolescents whose parents are strengthened coordination to protect hospitalised or isolated by COVID-19. the nursing homes for the elderly, For children and adolescents from 3 to disabled, and those living with a mental 18 years old, XANASCAT will opens illness in front of COVID-19 by hostels, where qualified staff will be generating a unique logistics circuit for present all day long. For children under the distribution of protective equipment 3 years old, a host family will be based on their own estimated needs. provided. More information. An emergency pool of people

registered in the Catalan Public Guaranteed meal services for Employment Service (SOC) with a minors who are users of the suitable professional profile has been services of socio-educational created to join the teams of the nursing intervention with meal service homes that need it urgently. Cards will be facilitated for the families and for the minors who are users of the Protecting the vulnerable socio-educational intervention Relocation of 21 disabled people living

40 in nursing residencies and who have Financial aid for people over 65 some COVID-19 symptoms in and victims of gender violence Barcelona to the Casa del Mar in The Government of Catalonia will Barcelona where they can receive advance financial aid to pay rent to targeted care. More information. people over 65 and victims of gender violence. More information. Protecting social workers . Provision of masks and gloves Ensure human resources are to workers in residential care available services to prevent the spread Exceptional organisational and human of COVID-19 in nursing homes resource measures have been put in for the elderly, improve care for place for nursing homes and day care the affected people, and centres for the elderly, disabled and prevent staff contagion. More those living with mental illness, as well information. as at home help services. More . Extension of free psychological information. support service for COVID-19 to social services professionals in collaboration with the Professional Association of Psychologists. More information.

Multilanguage and audio communication Mobilisation of volunteers to translate Recommendations for workers COVID-19 recommendations into 35 languages. We have recorded voice Published a set of recommendations of notes to reach groups that do not personal protection and prevention for understand Catalan or Spanish, or those working in the Homeless have difficulties accessing the internet. Services (more information), Infographics with information and volunteering and neighbourhood recommendations on COVID-19 have network groups (more information), also been translated into 18 languages home care professionals (more spoken in Catalonia. More information. information) as well as FAQs relating to work-related questions and answers

about COVID-19 (permanently

updated – more information).

Establishment of prevention and can be reviewed depending on the measures for workers evolution of the situation and according to the available information. Within the Measures for the management of framework of the Work Relations nursing home centres and Council, it is considered necessary to professionals dependent on the provide labour information to General Management for Child and companies and workers; recommend Adolescent Care in order to avoid prevention measures, focusing on the health risks due to the spread of environmental, organisational and COVID-19 or mitigate its effects in individual actions, in order to minimise relation to the minors and young the risk; propose actions in the labour- people who reside in these spaces, as relations field that have been agreed, well as the professionals who take care so that Catalonia has a unified of them (more information). Measures proposal of measures and actions; for those in the Orientation and transfer some considerations Support Services for families (more regarding the determination of the information). Measures and technical contingency before the exposure of a recommendations for essential worker to a biological agent that entails services that are provided within the a period of preventive isolation; and, Home Care Service (more encourage the mobility of staff linked to information). the sector of care services for people in the context of the health and social Flexibility of mobility of emergency. healthcare professionals Agreement between the Department, Speeding up unemployment employer’s organisations and trade benefits unions agree to allow flexibility in the The Public Employment Service of mobility of healthcare professionals. Catalonia (SOC) offers its More information. infrastructure to support the Spanish

Government Public Employment Recommendations for Service (SEPE) with the aim to companies and workers process unemployment benefits. From the beginning of the current People who go to the SOC will be crisis, there has been a document of registered without having to wait for the recommendations for companies and SEPE. More information. workers on actions related to situations that may occur due to COVID-19 created by the Work Relations Council of Catalonia. The document is updated

Flexibilisation of deadlines and Creation of a benefit for the care streamline of urgent needs of children separated from their Deadlines for enrolments to different family due to COVID-19 grants and realignment of the channels This is an emergency financial benefit to process the Guaranteed Minimum that covers the costs of caring for Income scheme of Catalonia (RGC) children temporarily unprotected due and ensure its availability, especially in to the pandemic. More information. urgent cases. More information

Online housing advice to guide young people who cannot afford Measures adopted in housing because of having lost the recovery phase income due to COVID-19 Expert staff will resolve legal doubts Two guides with practical tips so about who can and how to opt in for a 50% discount on rent, a deferral of the young people can manage fee or obtain a bank microcredit of up confinement with emotional to 10 years and without interest. More balance information. The Directorate General for Youth publishes through social media, tools to identify emotions, learn to become Train staff in nursing homes on positive and rediscover new ways to the COVID-19 participate and connect with the The Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs environment. More information. and Families, the Consortium for UNESCO has included the guide to Continuing Education of Catalonia accompany young people during their (CFCC) and Doctors Without Borders confinement "How to find meaning" in (MSF) have started a collaboration to a list of the best resources and good provide online training on COVID-19 to practices worldwide. More information. health professionals and of the care sector working in nursing homes. The training materials and sessions aim to expand staff knowledge about COVID- 19 and provide advice and instructions for implementing hygiene and disease

prevention measures to minimise the

risk of infection. More information.

Updated Instruction 8/2020 for the application of labour measures for workers who have signed discontinuous fixed-term employment contract Because of COVID-19 and for the application of the regulatory provisions issued in labour matters. More information. #HeyBrain campaign for a conscious use of mobile phones Instruction 1/2020, of 8 April and social networks, placing 2020, of the General Directorate young people at the centre of for Social Economy, the Third decisions Sector and Cooperatives The Secretariat for Children, It is agreed to continue the instruction Adolescents and Youth is launching and resolution of the procedures the campaign to encourage healthy relating to the provision of the Catalan and responsible habits in the use of guaranteed income. More information mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) and social media. With the motto, “I act for a conscious internet. Resolution for the Create, enjoy and share”, the accomplishment of the integral government's social networks, radio services of orientation and and audio-visual wedges will be aimed support to the labour integration at teenagers aged between 12 and 16 of people with disability or and their parents and guardians in mental health disorders, for the particular, with a close, emotional year 2019 graphic campaign. More information. Resolution TSF/1301/2019, of 9 May,

while Royal Decree 463/2020, of 14 Care services for women in March, declaring the state of alarm, is situations of gender-based in force for the management of the violence health crisis situation caused by There have been 3,457 care COVID-19. More information. interventions provided to women since confinement began. More information.

COVID-19 recommendations for rigor and professionalism. Médecins companies that have resumed Sans Frontières has made several activity specific modules available to the staff of the nursing homes. Government, unions and employers have agreed on a wide range of measures to prevent COVID-19 Adapt training actions and expansion. Among others: to promote occupational programmes to the telework; respect the 1.5m distance in situation caused by the health collective areas; wear a mask to alarm prevent the virus from spreading, and Introduction of online training other PPE when appropriate; risk whenever possible and extension of prevention services should assess the terms of certain programmes and workers' symptoms and temperature; related contracts suspended due to the companies must review Contingency crisis. More information. Plans or Occupational Health and Safety Protocols, agreed with workers' representatives. There are specific To support the consolidation, measures for workers in health, social strengthening and reinvention of sectors and nursing homes. More self-employment in Catalonia, information. for the year 2019. Extend the execution period of the Consolida’t program Resolution / 1525/2019, of 7 May, with extraordinary measures to deal with the impact of COVID-19 in relation to the “Consolida't program”, to support the consolidation, strengthening and reinvention of self-employment in Catalonia on 2019. More information. Virtual platform to train workers that will be incorporated into nursing homes Extraordinary measures to The Public Employment Service of address the impact of COVID-19 Catalonia and the Consortium for in relation to the financing of Continuing Education organise training plans in the field of courses, of between 10 and 15 hours, social dialogue and collective to guarantee that the people registered bargaining, for the year 2019 carry out their work with the greatest Granting of subsidies for the financing

45 of training plans related to social economic reactivation and social dialogue and collective bargaining. protection as a result of the crisis of the The beneficiary organisations will be COVID-19 (CORECO), and to agree able to adapt the methodology, the aim on measures to deal with the social and effect, to allow the foreseen consequences of the crisis. It wants to formative activities. More information. discuss issues such as a new model of personal autonomy, the reactivation of negotiations on energy poverty, child Emergency benefit for workers poverty, educational leisure activities and the self-employed to cover this summer and immigrants in an expenses for basic needs and irregular administrative situation. basic supplies

Implementation of an extraordinary 1.5 MEUR to combat child grant of €200, until the exhaustion of poverty and malnutrition €20m budget, for employees and self- employed workers with family The government and the Red Cross responsibilities who have suffered a will allocate this money to the purchase reduction of more than 30% of their and distribution of food, emergency income due to COVID-19. Specifically, kits and wallet cards for families with people affected by a temporary vulnerable children and teenagers, regulation file, those with an expired and will reach families in aid for temporary contract or self-employed premium products. The aid provided workers who have had to suspend or within the Red Cross Response Plan to reduce their activity, may request it. To the social effects of COVID-19, is facilitate the acquisition of food, coordinated with Social Services, in pharmacy products and other basic order not to duplicate efforts and supplies, to each affected family unit. ensure that it reaches those who need More information. it most. In fact, since the beginning of the crisis in mid-March, a team of

6,382 Red Cross volunteers and Creation of a working group to technicians have distributed 504,000 agree on measures for the social kg of food and have made 46,500 crisis of the COVID-19 deliveries of necessities and The Minister of Labour, Social Affairs medicines to more than 90,752 people and Families, Chakir el Homrani, has at risk of social exclusion in over 150 proposed to the Board of Entities of the Catalan municipalities. Third Social Sector of Catalonia, its participation in a task force within the Technical Committee for the elaboration of the Plan for the

10.5 MEUR for municipal projects general interest, with the aim of helping related to the COVID-19 health to mitigate the social and economic crisis impact that the health crisis has had. With the aim of increasing The Ministry will support local bodies employability, the budget sums up to with 10.5 MEUR to finance €7,300,000 (€5,840,000 for 2020 and homelessness services (€1m), €1,460,000 for 2021). COVID-19 volunteering (€1,5m) and home care service (€8m) through the program contract with municipalities Financing of social economy and county councils. It has been companies for the year 2020- decided to strengthen municipal and 2022 social services with this economic Aid in the form of a guarantee to social increase for actions aimed at economy companies for investments in vulnerable groups, in anticipation of an tangible or intangible fixed assets, aggravation of the economic and social capitalization, working capital and situation. advances for contracts with the public sector for 2020-2022. The maximum 8.7 MEUR to annual projects of amount to formalize operations under social entities the Agreement signed on 11 May 2020 between the Ministry of Labour, Social In addition to the ordinary call for Affairs and Families and the ICF to grants for the period 2019-2022 finance projects of companies in the endowed with 432 MEUR, this will fund social and cooperative economy. initiatives carried out in 2020, addressed, among others, to people and families in a situation of Access criteria for the new public vulnerability, the elderly, children and vacancies on residential centres teenagers, young people and people Ministries of Labour, Social Affairs and with dependency or disability. The aim Families and Health, have approved is to guarantee the viability of the the extension of priority access criteria projects of non-profit organizations for for new income to residential centres, the care of people to deal with the incorporating situations arising from social consequences arising from the the impact of COVID-19. This health crisis. resolution also updates and collects the different situations of social 7.3 MEUR grants for the year emergency in which people who 2020 for non-profit organizations require care in the services of residential centres for the elderly can These grants have been declared of be found, which entail the right to

47 receive urgent or priority care, given 6.1 MEUR to the self-employment that they cannot wait for the ordinary of young people enrolled in the turn. Youth Guarantee Program This measure to promote self- 11 MEUR support to the employment takes implies a subsidy of educational leisure sector €10m for each young person who is uninterruptedly registered in the Social The Ministry has presented the 2020 Security scheme for the self-employed, Educational Leisure Plan, and has or in the mutual society of the announced that this year it will allocate corresponding professional a total of 11 MEUR to the sector, which association, during a maximum period means doubling the investment initially of 12 months. The aim is to guarantee planned before the COVID-19 health a minimum income for the self- crisis. It quadruples the budget for employed at the beginning of their scholarships and will allocate 4.65 economic activity. MEUR so up to 40,000 children and adolescents from families in a vulnerable situation or financially More than 9 MEUR to affected by the COVID-19 can employment projects for people participate in leisure activities, such as with disabilities and mental summer camps and work camps. health disorders These scholarships would range between €80 and €100. The Ministry will allocate €9,375,000 this year to employment support The Government had already services for people with disabilities or expressed its commitment to making mental health disorders, to increase leisure activities possible this summer, the degree of employability and ensuring that they can be developed employment and facilitate social with safety and protection measures, adaptation and employment of workers as it considers leisure education an with disabilities who have special essential tool for the integral difficulties in finding employment in development of children and companies. These groups suffer from teenagers. The Ministry also considers a high degree of risk of exclusion, it important that this year there is which the current health crisis situation summer leisure to help entities and has aggravated, given the strong associations, as well as the promotion social and economic impact it has had of zero-kilometer activities. on the labour market.

74.6 MEUR to the labour work in the summer fruit campaign has integration of people with received more than 9,100 applications, disabilities or mental illness three times more than last year. A total budget of 74.6 MEUR has been set up for the employment integration Temporary employment of people with physical, intellectual or regulation files procedure mental illness, both through special derived from force majeure work centres and the ordinary market. It establishes the criteria and the These lines will affect approximately procedure on certain formalities linked 12,300 people with disabilities and to the temporary files of regulation of more than 1,200 support employment like suspension of professionals, technicians and contracts or reduction of days. monitors. Approving the revised text of the Enabling suitable spaces for Workers' Statute Act, based on confinement for the fruit extraordinary urgent measures to deal campaign workers with the economic and social impact of Three Ministries (Health, Labour and COVID-19, which are directly related to Agriculture) are promoting a specific the health crisis action plan for the newly arrived population of the fruit picking Data on Temporary Regulation campaign. Ministry of Labour Files presented in Catalonia increases support for town councils and county councils with 10.5 MEUR The Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs for actions on homelessness, and Families reports that 97,544 volunteering and home care services temporary employment regulation linked to COVID-19. (ERTO) files have been submitted in Catalonia so far, affecting a total of

718,865 working people. ERTOs by More than 2.5 MEUR to this year's force majeure represent 93.5% of Agricultural Campaign to those submitted, and affect 84.6% of intensify support for the working people. agricultural sector Two interactive maps on the website of €625,000 are awarded for hiring and the Labour and Productive Model training 52 technical people for Observatory show the figures for mediation tasks and assistance to ERTOs by localities. The information temporary workers in the agricultural by municipality is monthly and is added campaign in the province of Lleida. the daily-updated information by The job bank created by the SOC to demarcation and county. Specific

49 measures for health, social and health groups, residences and home care are also included. More information.

Instruction 10/2020 on the processing of work-life balance suspended due to the declaration of the state of alarm The instruction aims to take measures to absorb the outstanding pending conciliations, a total of 8,037, as well as those already planned between

11/05/2020 and 31/05/2020, a total of 743, which could not be notified by interruption of the postal service.

Recommendation paper on the use of microbiological tests in the face of the staggered return to the work environment

This paper has been approved in the light of the current context, which does not yet have, in the short term, a comprehensive immunization or a fully effective vaccine. However, the return must be guaranteed with maximum health security and by taking the necessary preventive and organizational measures to prevent the risk of coronavirus infection in the workplace.

Update of recommendations for companies and workers in relation to the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

11. Department of Enterprise (Business) and Knowledge

Measures adopted in the face the COVID-19. A supply and demand service to address the emergency phase emergency within the citizenship.

Users need to fill in a form to offer or Flexibility of temporary request any business solution that can employment regulation records help deal with the situation. The Temporary Employment Regulation government publishes the offers and Records (ERTES) caused by COVID- demands and request with the 19 have been considered force maximum agility. It already counts on majeure and workers have the right to almost 1,700 registered companies to the contributory unemployment collaborate and orientate their benefit, even if the unemployed person capacities towards facing COVID-19. does not complete the required prior More information. contribution requirement. More information.

Extraordinary benefit for the cessation of activity for self- employed workers Self-employed workers with activities suspended by the current state of alarm, or whose invoicing in the month preceding the request for the benefit, is Virtual desk of ‘ACCIO reduced by at least 75% compared to competitiveness for Catalonia’ the average billing for the previous A measure to strengthen the channel semester, have been entitled to the with electronic business advice and extraordinary benefit for the cessation help the creation of new services of activity. More information. during the COVID-19 crisis.

. Zero minute: aimed to reinforce the Creation of ‘Business business attention system via chat Marketplace COVID-19’ to answer any business-related Online service to connect doubt with specialists in innovation, technological and health solutions to internationalisation and financing.

. Opportunities: videoconference €2m to support micro- service to attend any business ideas enterprises and professionals in or enquiries. the tourism sector . On-going support by an account An aid of €2,500 in a single advance manager in case of on-going payment is designed for companies personalised projects. and professionals both affected by . Updated useful information on COVID-19 and with limited access to COVID-19 for the business sector. other existing aid lines due to its More information. smaller structure and lower turnover. Flexibilisation of deadlines Beneficiaries may be accommodation establishments, tourist guides, Interruption of the administrative mediation companies, establishments deadlines of the acts and procedures and activities of tourist interest, with a related the management of the calls for maximum of five employees and up to research grants and research grants of a maximum of €500,000 in annual the Agency for Management of turnover. More information. University and Research Grants

(AGAUR). More information. ‘Now it’s your turn’ campaign Launching of the ‘Now it’s your turn’ marketing campaign with the aim of Measures adopted in reactivating local commercial activity the recovery phase as the reopening of establishments is planned for the coming weeks. Package of trade aid measures Activation of a package of subsidy lines in the field of retail, services, crafts, and fashion, in order to support the economic reactivation of these sectors. The grants, endowed with up to €9m, will be articulated through the Consortium of Commerce, Crafts and Fashion of Catalonia (CCAM). More information. FAQ for business and professionals At ‘Business Channel’, all frequently asked questions of companies and professionals related to the COVID-19

52 emergency are answered. More capacity to run 8,000 samples per day information. at CRG. The programme is based on the use of real-time PCR to look for the presence of COVID-19 genetic Support to Catalan companies material in samples. with international branches and The second, funded with €1.2m, adds importing sanitary materials the specialised facilities of the The international network of Trade and University of Barcelona, Pompeu Investment Offices of Catalonia have Fabra University, the Autonomous set up new services to strengthen their University of Barcelona, Rovira i Virgili support to Catalan companies based University and EURECAT (through the abroad. They are validating Centre for Omic Sciences, COS). This international suppliers and assist in the extension adds capacity for 139,000 process of importing sanitary materials tests to be carried out at the Catalan to Catalonia. More information. universities and which join the 170,000 from the first phase. 309,000 tests are Creation of the Orfeu expected for six weeks. Programme The tests have been compared and verified to meet the national standard Designed to address the massive set by Spanish hospitals, as well as screening of the population to detect those in Europe, the United States, COVID-19. Israel and further afield. The first phase, funded by the Catalan Government with €1.4m, involves three CERCA research centres in Catalonia: the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and the Institute of Biomedical Research (IRB Barcelona). The CRG leads this effort to carry out 170,000 tests to detect COVID-19 both during New website on research activity the lockdown and as measures are linked to COVID-19 progressively relaxed. The centres are working seven days a week to conduct It compiles projects, funding and 100,000 tests during a six-week period solidarity initiatives led or participated in its labs thanks to their regular PCR by research centres, large capabilities, in addition to the next- infrastructures, universities and generation sequencing robot with a hospitals in Catalonia that investigate on therapies, vaccines and new

53 diagnostic tests for COVID-19. The The Catalan Energy Institute repository research activity in (ICAEN) promotes energy saving Catalonia linked to the COVID-19 and efficiency during reflects the scientific effort of the confinement knowledge system of Catalonia. The The Catalan Energy Institute (ICAEN) site also provides information on the has launched various initiatives to European Commission response to encourage energy saving and the COVID-19 and the opportunities for efficiency at home during the researchers and SMEs. A FAQs confinement period established to deal section on the site addresses with COVID-19. questions regarding research activities during lockdown. More information. ‘Taulellcomerç.cat’, a platform of innovative initiatives to reactivate local trade The Ministry of Business and Knowledge, through the Consortium of Commerce, Crafts and Fashion (CCAM), has launched ‘Taulellcomerç.cat’, a platform of

innovative initiatives to reactivate local Emergency call to speed new trade. The aim is to make this platform solutions for preventing and an online reference for entities, treating COVID-19 companies and consumers. Promoted by the Catalan Ministry of Health, it has funded 19 projects on ‘Artesania Catalunya’ (Catalan new therapies, drug repurposing, Handicrafts) launches the vaccine development and diagnostics, informative campaign ‘Crafts with €4m. More information. Two more calls are under preparation by the enter your home’, to promote the Ministry of Business and Knowledge, work of the Catalan artisan targeting different TRLs to fund sector research and innovation projects The Catalan Handicrafts initiative of against COVID-19 in all knowledge the Consortium of Commerce, Crafts fields. The total amount of both calls and Fashion (CCAM) has launched the will exceed €10m. information campaign ‘Crafts enter your home’ to promote and value the work of the Catalan artisan sector.

150 SMEs receive a grant of recruitment, scholarships and grants. It €14,000 to promote digital also includes access to teaching transformation projects activities and online resources from universities, and research activity on 150 Catalan SMEs have received a COVID-19 in Catalonia. grant of up to €14,000 in the form of a grant to start or accelerate digital The Catalan knowledge system transformation projects. It is the result members are leading or participating in of the first line of aid of the ProACCIÓ studies and clinical trials to identify 4.0 program of the Ministry of Business diverse and complementary and Knowledge, executed through treatments against SARS-CoV2. The ACCIÓ - the agency for the lines of research include the competitiveness of companies -, an application of existing drugs to block initiative that aims to promote the the effects of the virus; the transformation of the Catalan business identification and administration of industry towards an industry 4.0, acting specific antibodies against SARS- as the one-stop shop in Catalonia in CoV2; enhancing the patient's immune this field. system response to detect and attack the virus; the design and testing of

functional coronavirus vaccines; the Personalised service on use of high-performance computing to financing for SME enhance intelligent drug design; the ACCIO Competitiveness for Catalonia application of selected SARSCoV-2 has launched a personalised service to antigens using plant-derived provide financing advice to companies technologies; or blocking a key viral within the COVID-19 framework. Not protein in the infection, among others. only does it evaluate the impact of More information. COVID-19 in each company finance An specific mention for a dozen health, but also supports it to find women-led researches that are suitable funding. investigating the coronavirus in different fields such as biomedical, nanotechnology or mathematics, COVID-19 Portal at the among others. More information. Secretariat for Universities and

Research website Survey to universities and With updated information on the affectation of the different tests of research centres regarding access to the university, the academic COVID-19 and funds activities in the 12 Catalan universities, A survey has been conducted to 12 as well as in the announcements of universities and 39 research centers

55 by the Inter-University Council of take the whole test regardless of the Catalonia, the CERCA Institution and circumstances in the last term of the the Agency for Management of school year. With regard to the University and Research Grants. evaluations and the end of the Answers were received from 50% of academic year, an online emergency universities and 51% of research teaching scenario has made possible centers consulted (7 biomedicine and to establish non-face-to-face healthcare, 3 earth sciences and assessment formats and a series of agrofood, 7 STEMS, 1 economics, 2 guidelines to universities. In terms of social sciences and humanities; internships, universities have made an around 6000 researchers). effort to make the academic calendar more flexible for final degree and Main conclusions and key requests: master's theses or external internships . Period extension and flexibility of that have not been able to adapt to the budget allocation, with simplified and online format. consistent procedures. In the field of internationalization, . Overcome effects of temporary lay-off recommendations have been made to in ongoing contracts and new hirings, foreign students who are part of considering extension of HR schemes and budget rules flexibilisation. mobility programs to facilitate their return and it has also been . Reorientation of EU research strategy recommended to postpone or cancel to preparedness to future outbreaks. all scheduled Erasmus stays for the . Regarding ERDF, effective adaptation duration of the exceptional situation. of the program to R&I activities, both for personnel and project outcomes Finally, a permanently updated website that reports on the effects of COVID-19 in the field of knowledge Measures taken to facilitate the has been created; it includes all the adaptation of the university contributions that are being made from higher education system research centers and universities in The Ministry of Universities and Catalonia supporting the health Research has promoted various system in the fight against the measures to facilitate the adaptation of pandemic. More information. the university higher education system in the face of the exceptional situation caused by the COVID-19.

As for the University Admission Test (PAU), the date for its completion has been delayed and criteria of flexibility have been adopted to allow students to

CATALAN AGENCY FOR channel available to the public. From CONSUMERS Monday to Friday from 12pm to 1pm, citizens can send all their queries

related to the effects in the field of Measures adopted in the consumption. emergency phase Monographic programs (‘Càpsules Informatives #Cuidem el consum’) on Information for consumers the following topics: scam and hoax products to fight against COVID-19, Up to date information on what kind of short circuit consumption and support commercial and leisure activities will to local producers, home food remain closed and what kind of services, advices for buying at commercial activities and services will supermarkets, periodic payments, remain open, including the reduction of flights and cancellations, public activities such as road transports, train transport and seasonal tickets, transports, flights and inland water concerts and event’s cancellations, transport. More information. priority purchase for vulnerable groups in establishments, deadlines to claim General advice the package travels, agencies, vouchers, return the money back. The Agency encourages consumers towards responsible and solidarity These programs have been published consumption, to plan shopping and throughout social media (facebook, strictly buy the necessary goods. The Instagram, twitter, Spotify) as well as Agency also advises not to stockpile digital newspapers. products. Moreover, the Catalan Consumer Agency has updated the information on other areas in the site web

concerning flights and package Measures adopted in travels; shows and other events; the recovery phase services you pay throughout monthly quotes; purchases and token payment; New online channel to attend to gas and electricity services; phone and internet services; loans and credits; inquiries due to the effects of mortuary services; location; masks and the COVID-19 crisis hygienic gel. Through its YouTube Live platform, the

Catalan Consumer Agency is adding a new space and making this new

12. Department of Digital Policy and Public Administration

Measures adopted in the circumstances so that companies and start-ups can develop a solution and emergency phase include them in the app. This will be

carried out through a so-called Digital infrastructure “Hackatlon”, launched with the support The Department and operators have of Mobile World Capital Barcelona, agreed to extend, at no cost, data Digital Future Society and i2Cat plans in order not to leave subscribers Foundation. More information. without internet in view of the increasing demand generated by COVID-19. Furthermore, the Department has also extended the capacity of optic fibre public networks so that local operators, which in some cases have experienced a 300% increase of the demand in certain areas, can guarantee the service to Cybersecurity citizens. In the light of the cyber-frauds and AI-based application ‘Confinapp’ cyber-crimes related to the expansion of COVID-19, the Cybersecurity Confinapp.cat is a digital tool that Agency of Catalonia has published a integrates all the services and report (available in Catalan) alerting of information that the government offers the main threats and listing the key to citizens and companies during the recommendations to follow. Some of COVID-19 crisis. To improve its them include the need to distrust non- functioning and effectiveness, this app requested mails and to search for includes an AI-based virtual assistant COVID-19 information on official sites that manages and solves citizens’ such as the Catalan Department of needs and doubts during confinement Health or the World Health (hygiene and health measures, Organisation (WHO). More allowed movements, measures to information. support workers and companies’,

schooling information, etc.). Moreover, this app also encourages citizens to Teleworking identify social needs in current In order to preserve the health of public 58 workers and guarantee the provision of experienced a decrease in the total basic and strategic public services, the turnover and number of clients, those Department has enabled the possibility companies offering digital services, to continue working from home online training and research have been (teleworking). Besides, those public less affected. To face this situation, the workers at risk, in charge of children or surveyed companies highlight the sick people and not performing basic need to postpone tax payments, and strategic services will be given provide financing with special “permission” to stay home and receive conditions and the leadership of public 100% of the wage. Apart from that, the administrations to boost digitalisation Department has also launched a and to act as client for projects. More webpage with all the necessary information. information regarding teleworking (#JoTeletreballo: Q&A, cybersecurity Pool of volunteers to develop advices, user guides for ICT devices, specific training, etc.). More administrative tasks information. Public servants not dedicated to strategic tasks in the current situation, can volunteer to develop administrative tasks for the Department of Health and Department of Homeland –which are two of the departments most affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The idea is to reinforce these departments. More information.

Survey on the effects of COVID- 19 among Catalan ICT companies CTecno and the Government of Measures adopted in Catalonia launched a survey to explore the recovery phase how the current crisis was affecting the Catalan ICT sector (check out the Deployment of optic fibre survey results). With the participation network of more than 300 companies, the survey showed that, thanks to the Since most people in Catalonia are existence of the necessary tools and working and studying from home, it has procedures, this sector could quickly become essential to guarantee proper implement teleworking measures. levels of connectivity. In this context, in Although the whole sector has April the Government of Catalonia has

59 declared, as “emergency works”, 10 this campaign wants to promote a projects aimed at deploying public cybersecurity culture within the optic fibre network in 51 municipalities business sector. More information. and county capitals where the existing levels of network coverage are Hackovoid insufficient. These projects will cover Falset, Vielha, Puigcerdà, Moià, The Department of Digital Policies and Montblanc, Valls, Gandesa, Solsona, Public Administration, Mobile World Borges Blanques and Sort. Based on Capital Barcelona, Digital Future this decision, deployment works Society and i2Cat Foundation, started on the May 11 with the electric organized Hackovid; a virtual, open conduit for the section Bagà – and participatory Hackathon to Puigdcerdà. By the end of this year, respond to the social needs related to connectivity will reach 6.4 million the confinement situation as well as inhabitants, 84% of the population in those that will arise later as activity Catalonia. More information. starts to normalise. In order to identify these needs, Hackovid launched a participatory process so that citizens could propose their needs and assess the most relevant ones (such as the provision of food for families at risk of social exclusion or digital resources for teachers and students). Afterwards, programmers and developers had to come up with an innovative digital solution to address them. More than Cybersecurity campaign for 100 teams of programmers and companies developers participated in this event. The use of digital tools, especially The winning solutions will be included teleworking, has increased due to in the ‘Confinapp’ mobile application. confinement measures. Bearing in More information. mind the current increase in cyber- attacks (nearly 150%) and their economic and social impact, the The Office from Home Cybersecurity Agency of Catalonia has The Department has created a launched a campaign to raise repository of digital tools called ‘The awareness on the risks, threats and Office from Home’ so citizens, vulnerabilities that companies, and especially self-employed and SMEs, specially SMEs, face. By providing can continue their activities and recommendations, advice and tools, productivity during the COVID-19

60 crisis. These resources, software, Guide to collaborative working services and tools were offered by for public administration different ITC companies and are The Open Administration of Catalonia classified by categories (collaborative Consortium (AOC) has launched a work, security, connectivity, etc.) and guide to help small and medium public cost (free of charge or with, at least, a administrations that do not have their 25% discount). The repository will own teleworking model. This guide grow as more companies offer new includes general recommendations resources and teleworking tools. More and orientation. information.

Alliance with Nextdoor platform Sit & TIC Talks to boost on-line neighbourhood The Directorate General of Digital collaboration Society is organising a series of online The Ministry of Digital Policies has debates called ‘Sit & Tic Talks, joined forces with Nextdoor to connect discussions on e-confinement’ to neighbours in Catalonia. Through this address the challenges posed by digital application, the Government of COVID-19 and the technological Catalonia has opened a new solutions that allow us to continue with communication channel to make our daily activities. These sessions will available all the information and be moderated by journalist Karma services offered to citizens during and Peiró and will have the participation of after confinement as well as experts in technological issues. Some recommendations, news and other of the discussion topics will be AI relevant information on maximizing the solutions in times of crises, e-learning use of IT tools. Nextdoor is an app and teleworking. More information. created in the US back in 2010 to facilitate and improve local relations. This app is present in more than 800 neighbourhoods and 180 municipalities in Catalonia. More information.

Prevention and security

measures for Public

Administration workers

returning to their places of work

Due to the current easing of restrictive

61 measures and the implementation of This initiative will offer free advice, the first steps towards the new training, technological and commercial normality, the Ministry has published support to businesses and self- two instructions (4/2020 and 5/2020) employed people to help them start on the prevention and security their on-line business. Some specific measures to guarantee the protection services will include the creation of a of public workers in all Government webpage or an on-line store free of Ministries and Independent bodies. cost, strategies to promote business in The first instruction lays down the social media, provision of digital tools actions to be taken beforehand to such as Google Meet and Drive and prepare the workspace: it establishes information on subsidies and funds teleworking as the most preferred available to digitalize business. More modality of work and lists measures information. such as security distances in working Through the SmartCatalonia places, hygiene measures, provision Laboratory, the Ministry has also of masks, etc. The second instruction, presented a catalogue of innovative which deals with the progressive solutions to help public authorities and reincorporation of public workers to on- business in the reactivation of local site activities, establishes a return sectors such as tourism and based on four phases and foresees commerce, which have been severely measures to make working schedules affected by COVID-19, by facilitating more flexible and allow family their digitalization and helping promote reconciliation for those with children their activities. The catalogue includes, and dependent people. Public among others, digital tools such as personnel at a situation of risk will data intelligence-based software, continue working from home until the market places and mobile apps. More new “normal situation” is reached. information. More information here and here.

Digitalisation of SMEs and self- employed

The Ministry of Digital Policies, together with the Council of Chambers of Commerce and the employers organisations PIMEC and Foment del Treball, has launched an initiative called ‘Dona la volta al teu negoci’

(Turn your business upside down).

13. Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food

Measures adopted in the Prioritise essential funds emergency phase Prioritise all the invitations for tender of

the European Fisheries and Maritime Information for workers Fund (EFFM) putting in place Direct contact with fishermen of the alternative communication boats, people working in the mechanisms like a specific email fishermen’s associations and people address, a special online form. working in the fish markets to inform Prioritise the administrative procedure about the protection measures to avoid concerning the regional regulation (for being contaminated by COVID-19. The those who have suffered damages Directorate-General for Maritime caused by Storm Gloria in January Affairs and Fisheries has provided a 2020). Exceptional procedure to telephone number and an email handle the authorisation procedures address to address any concerns. for fishery management and making available two different email addresses to exchange information with public administration.

Boost digitalisation procedures The Fishery and Nautical school has established new procedures to renovate or dispatch titles, or licences, via online means. The Fishery and Nautical school has postponed their Direct contact with the sector trainings. A website has been made Permanent contact with the fishery available to reach the school. sector and aquaculture through their federations and associations to inform Guarantee food production and them about the economic support, supply labour law measures (Record of temporary employment regulation, in Ensure minimum essential services acronym in Spanish ERTOs) to the keep working to guarantee production fishermen and ship-owners. and supply (including farmers and stockbreeders, farm workers and 63 farms, food suppliers, suppliers of Bové Agricultural School. Special handling materials, containers and webinars have been opened to packaging of products, improve business practices to fight slaughterhouses, carriers, and COVID-19. distribution chain wholesalers and retailers.) Allow transport of animals.

Extension of administrative deadlines The term for presentation of the Single Farm Financial Statement (DeclaracióÚnicaAgrària, DUN) 2020, by means of which applications can be Donation of material made for Common Agricultural Policy Donations have been made by the (CAP) grants for 2020 and other Department’s agricultural schools to Ministry of Agriculture procedures help prevent COVID-19 (gloves, undertaken, began on 1 February 2020 facemasks, cleaning and disinfecting and was scheduled to end on 30 April equipment) available at schools and 2020. However, given the state of the agri-food laboratory, at nearby alarm caused by COVID-19, the health centres. Department is processing the extension of the term for DUN subsidies and procedures until 15 June 2020 (direct subsidies, sustainability Measures adopted in grants, competitiveness grants, and the recovery phase other DUN procedures). Concerning grants for the restructuring and reconversion of vineyards, the term will Recommendations to ensure be extended up to 15 calendar days safety in the fruit campaign after suspension of the state of alarm. under COVID-19

Protocols to guarantee the safety of Reinforce continuous distance people who intervene in the food learning production, manipulation, and From its Agricultural Training Service, transport of the raw material have been the Department has strengthened the approved, as well of those who Continuous Distance Learning activity, intervene in the transformation from having had to suspend face-to-face the farm to the agrifood industry. A main goal of the above-mentioned and blended coordinated by the Mas

64 measures is to guarantee the quantity outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture and quality of the production and will deliver, to the ‘Food Bank’ supplies to ensure food security and foundation, the fruits, vegetables and food safety to the population. This milk belonging to the EU school fruit, regulation provides for monitoring of vegetables and milk schemes which activities through different territorial cannot been distributed during the commissions where all main actors are scholar term 2019 - 2020. It concerns involved (farmers, unions, industries, 174,000 milk litters and around 16,000 municipalities, government). These Kg of apples. All these products will be commissions monitor the agricultural aimed at vulnerable people in the campaign and agree the entire network of social initiative implementation of recommendations: entities provided by the ‘Food Bank’. inform all workers about the disease, regulate external visits to workplaces, hygiene rules and work organisation, transfer of workers, criteria for accommodation and measures at the municipal level, among others. More information.

Purchase €4m of fresh products from small producers to donate Subsidies/aide to mitigate the them to the ‘Food Bank’ impact of the COVID-19 outbreak The Ministry of Agriculture will buy in fishery and aquaculture fresh products from small producers sector with difficulties accessing the food The Ministry is preparing subsidies to supply chain and commercialisation. furnish the sector with individual These perishable products will be protection equipment to be able to face donated to the ‘Food Bank’ to the public health crisis due the COVID- guarantee the nourishment of deprived 19 outbreak in the fisheries and families, as the demand has risen due aquaculture sector and in the to the socioeconomic COVID-19 crisis. commercialisation of fishery products. This support will be co-financed at 75% Delivery EU school fruit, by the European Fund of Fisheries and vegetables and milk scheme Maritime Fund. products to the ‘Food Bank’ After suspending educational activity in Catalonia due to the COVID-19

receiving this food. The above decision Questions and answers about is taken in line withthe European Commission decision framework to COVID-19 support the economy during the The Ministry has published a space to COVID-19 crisis. answer the frequent questions about The aid will amount at most € 4,000 to COVID-19, divided among different € 10,000 per producer depending on thematic sections (agriculture, forestry, the type of product, or € 75,000 per hunting, rural development and CAP, producer group covering 85% of the livestock and nautical) on its website. value of the unsold product. The products will be delivered to the Food 4 MEUR to purchase the fresh Bank Foundation, who will distribute it products from the small farmers among social organizations in need. who have marketing difficulties More information. due the COVID 19 Due to the COVID-19 sanitary crisis and the state of alarm, many fresh and perishable products producers and others, like olive oil and honey producers have lost their marketing circuits, which are linked to the horeca and the tourism. On the other hand, the economic crises has caused a social crisis where 1 MEUR to provide the fishing the most weak sectors of the society sector with personal protective and in particular y groups which are equipment against the health socially excluded are suffering for the crisis of the COVID19 lack of resources due to the stop of the economic activity. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food of the Generalitat The ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, de Catalunya, through the Directorate Fisheries and Food has set an aide of General of Fisheries, has called for 4 MEUR to support economically the extraordinary aid to subsidize the producers who are suffering from the actions taken from the 1 February COVID-19 crisis throughout 2020, aimed at increasing protection purchasing their products. At the same and security measures in the fisheries time, it helps to the social sectors, sector. which have been more touched by the social and economic crisis, who are These grants, co-financed by 75% by the European Maritime and Fisheries

Fund (EMFF), aim to facilitate to these operators the purchase of equipment and materials for protection and disinfection of individuals and investments in workplaces that ensure adequate distancing of the working people. This in order to contribute to the exercise of these economic activities in conditions of security and to reduce the possibilities of contagion and propagation of the COVID-19.

Marketplace of solidarity initiatives that fights to respond to the food emergency

Various social initiatives are working hard to ensure that no vulnerable person is left without food and to help health professionals and other indispensable groups who are working to combat this pandemic. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food has created ‘MarketPlace’, an online marketplace, to support the work being done by social initiatives and the agri-food sector throughout the year, and especially during this crisis of food emergency, to contribute to the good use of food. The initiatives included in the online market are working to supply food to vulnerable groups with the aim of facilitating their contact with the agri-food sector and helping to alleviate the food emergency and prevent food waste.

More information.

14. Independent Regulatory Authority: the Catalan Audio- Visual Council

The Catalan Audio-Visual Council COVID-19’. Scientifically validated by (CAC) is the Independent Regulatory the Barcelona College of Physicians, Authority for audio-visual the CAC report reveals claims from communication in Catalonia. Its people posing as researchers or objective is to make sure that suppliers experts in the field of medicine and of audio-visual services, both public claiming to have found a cure for the and private, comply with regulations pandemic. Following these findings, applicable to them. The council’s the CAC called on video-sharing principles of action are defending platform YouTube to remove 16 these freedom of speech and information, videos (with 340,000 views) promoting pluralism, neutrality and honesty of non-scientific treatments to cure news as well as free competition in the COVID-19. YouTube deleted them on sector. 26 March. The CAC has also published some recommendations to spot fake In accordance with the provisions of news from trustworthy information Law 2/2000 of its creation, the Catalan (available in Catalan in this link). Some Audio-Visual Council acts with full of the key recommendations include independence of the Government of following official information only, Catalonia and public administrations in using recognised media outlets, the exercise of its functions. More crosschecking news and refraining information. from sharing unverified text or audio messages. Measures adopted in the emergency phase Awareness-raising campaign broadcasted on TV, radio and Combating misinformation in social media social media The Catalan Audio-visual Council The Catalan Audio-visual Council (CAC) launched a campaign to (CAC) has published a report called address some of the challenges and ‘Content on YouTube and social risks related to COVID-19. This networks promoting claims to cure campaign consisted of several

68 animated videos and radio the fact that 80% of people consider announcements that were having received COVID-19 related broadcasted three times a day on fake-news (especially through social public media, social media platforms networks and Whattsapp). This as well as private and local media. The newsletter also confirms that the first part of the campaign took place consumption of media service between 8 and 26 April 2020 and dealt providers such as Netflix, HBO and with misinformation and reasonable Amazon Prime has increased by 52% screen use. More information. The and that citizens consider public media second part of the campaign started on to be the most trustworthy during this 29 April 2020 and dealt with good crisis. More information. screen use during online learning activities and security in social media. Recommendations for a proper More information. All the videos of the campaign are available with English use of video-calls in educative subtitles (Fake News 1, Fake News 2, environments Good Screen use 1, Good Screen use The CAC, in the context of the 2, Online Learning, and Social programme ‘eduCAC’, together with networks). In this context, the CAC has the Ministry of Education, have also published some elaborated a set of recommendations recommendations to ensure a proper for a responsible use of video-calls in use of screens (available in Catalan in educative environments. Some of this link). Among others, the council these recommendations (which advises families to agree on a include actions to follow before, during schedule for their use and to allow and after the video-call) include common spaces for connections to keeping the same clothing and avoid situations of isolation. hygienic habits as on-site classes, turning the microphone off when not in use and not manipulating nor recording Analysis of TV trends during images of teachers and students to COVID-19 expose them in social networks. This The second CAC Special newsletter information is available to everyone. (available in Catalan) was released in More information. May. Some of its findings include the 33% increase of TV consumption among children (the highest), the moderation in the consumption of TV news (although remains higher than before the state of alarm), the ever- increasing consumption of internet and

Delegation of the Government of Catalonia to the EU Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat, 227 1040 - Brussels [email protected] Telephone: 0032 (0)2 231 03 30