My email jiminysimpson@gmail.com

My email jiminysimpson@gmail.com

Friday, August 28, 2020

Covid Update Friday 28th August

 📣Neighbours:

3 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in our municipality, since the last statement published, with a total of 5 cases today The data of the affected persons cannot be disclosed by the Data Protection Law, but they are in home isolation.
Several tests are pending to detect any other possible new cases.
We ask citizens for peace of mind since the City Council is taking all the measures recommended by the authorities, in coordination with the different Administrations, to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.
According to the Andalusian Health Service page, a possible case of Covid-19 infection will be considered as any person with a mild acute respiratory infection (fever over 38º and persistent dry cough). In this case, you should NOT go to the Medical Center, you must call the contact telephone number of the Junta de Andalucía, which is 900400061.
For general information about Covid-19, you can call Salud Responde: 955545060.
We ask everyone to act responsibily and collaborate, complying with the rules and following sanitary recommendations and take all the necessary precautions as the Coronavirus is more present than ever in our town.
The City Council will keep you informed if there is any news.

Covid Testing Programme How To

The below information is posted on here for information from a neighbour who felt it was worthwhile sharing.

"Our situation was that we had been in contact with an asymptomatic person who later developed symptoms and subsequently tested positive for covid-19.

We were experiencing no symptoms, but as a precaution, knowing that we had planned to meet up with different people during the week, I contacted CAT Services in Alfoquía to see if they had a fact-sheet of any kind.  They offered to phone the surgery on our behalf, when but if you do want to do it yourself, the procedure seems to be:

-Contact your GP who will make arrangements for you to be given a time slot for the drive-in test procedure in the car park at Huercal-Overa hospital.  You cannot just turn up; you need official paperwork to hand to the officials at the testing area which will have your NIE, name of surgery with GP's name,tarjeta de sanitaria ID and other stuff on it.  

We expect to get the results tomorrow morning.  I think it is via a phone call, which in our case will be from some at CATs but if individuals contact their surgeries privately, presumably they will receive the phone call.

Hope that this is helpful.  There might be other routes to procuring a test but this is what happened to us.  We were not asked who we'd been in contact with, nor for their details.  The test was free, mildly uncomfortable, and very quick.¨

Au Revoir

 This will probably be my last post from my Spanish home as we leave Spain this Saturday 29th August.

However it is not the end, as our Mayor Luis, has asked that I maintain the blog and the mobile phone app as long as I can and also to maintain electronic and mobile communication with the ex pat community. So I will continue to receive and action emails, messages or phone calls, albeit that my phone will be in England but still the same number. 

To ensure you all know who you can get help from I have listed below the contacts that are available including my own

1. Jim Simpson mobile and WhatsApp +34 610194260 or email jimszurgena@gmail.com 

2. Jose Manuel mobile and WhatsApp 687531499 or email jmcpioneer@outlook.com

3. Andreas Bonillo (during office hours only) mobile and WhatsApp 647732887 email abonillo@zurgena.es 

4. Angela (during office hours only) mobile and WhatsApp 622514929  or email angelacristinadasilvaferreira@gmail.com

angelacristinadasilvaferreira@gmail.com

In addition to the above (who are all bilingual) the technical architect in the Town Hall speaks English and if it a serious enough issue, the Mayor Luis Diaz Garcia will attend to you. 

So for the future still contact me if you want assistance, I may not be as quick in responding as previously, but will endeavour to answer all messages. Otherwise please use the people mentioned above.

Lastly I would like to thank all of you who have sent gifts, cards and letters of appreciation. All gratefully received and to know so many of you took the time to do so makesl the past 13 years work worthwhile. Thanks but I am not completely gone!!

Pool Bar area Holiday Home owners

 In an effort to try and ensure we have the necessary details to communicate with all holiday home owners regarding the consolidation process we need to have their contact details in their home countries.

If you own a holiday home in the area that is currently being processed (pool bar area Calle Petunia/Clavel/Sierra de Hornachuelos/Sierra de Cardena y Montoyo/Crisantemo/Gardenia/Sierra de Grazalema) for consolidation and you have not previously provided these can you send me the full names of the owner/s with NIE numbers, home country telephone, email addresses and physical UK address. I shall collate these and give them to the staff who are working on it.


Thursday, August 27, 2020

Covid Update

 📣Neighbours:

3 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in our municipality, since the last statement published A total of 5 cases today The data of the affected persons cannot be disclosed by the Data Protection Law, but they are in home isolation.
Several tests are pending to detect any other possible new cases.
We ask citizens for peace of mind since the City Council is taking all the measures recommended by the authorities, in coordination with the different Administrations, to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.
According to the Andalusian Health Service page, a possible case of Covid-19 infection will be considered as any person with a mild acute respiratory infection (fever over 38º and persistent dry cough). In this case, you should NOT go to the Medical Center, you must call the contact telephone number of the Junta de Andalucía, which is 90040061.
For general information about Covid-19, you can call Salud Responde: 955545060.
We ask everyone for responsibility and collaboration, complying with the rules and following sanitary recommendations, and that all precautions be taken, since the Coronavirus is more present than ever in our town.
The City Council will keep you informed if there is any news.

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Covid Update

The Zurgena city council reports the confirmation of 2 new active cases of Covid-19 in our municipality.

The two affected have been spoken to and they are well and are confined to their homes.

We once again call on all our citizens to act responsibly and remind you all of the importance of complying with security and protection measures. As well as asking that the information be treated with the utmost sensibility and that people do not promote false information in the face of a problem as serious as this Pandemic, causing unnecessary harm to both those affected and their families.

From the City Council of Zurgena we remind you, once again, of the instructions of the Ministry of Health and Family, where they informs us: “that strict confidentiality must be kept at all times regarding the information provided relative to the health of the residents of the municipality, not having make this list public or make it known in any case to third parties outside the notification and control requested in accordance with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation, Regulation 216/679 and Organic Law 3/2018, of 5 December, Protection of Personal Data and Guarantee of Digital Rights ”.

The first case detected in the municipality has already recovered and we trust that the same will happen with these two new cases.

The City Council will notify of any evolution that occurs and continue with the disinfection of streets and the new distribution of masks. 

Road Closure

 The short cut road which leads through the back of Cucador under the bridge to the main road will be closed from today due to the road works.

Sorry for the inconvenience

Monday, August 24, 2020

Mrs H BLAKE

 Does anyone know a Mrs H Blake?

I discovered a brand new unsigned bank card on my entrance gate this morning but I do not know of anyone by that name. If you do please get them to contact me. If no contact is made by end of the week I will inform the bank to cancel the card.

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

A Long Shower

 Now that is a bit different for a heading!

The reason I used it is because I am exceedingly angry at the inconsiderate, thoughtless and lazy idiots we have amongst our community.!

I have always tried to be considered in my posts but over the years these people have got me (and others) to the point where we need to tell it like it is. 

We have, as I have often alluded to, a most excellent way of dealing with our waste, easy and more convenient than the UK and possibly the thing I will miss most when I leave here! However it seems a number of our residents seem to care little for how our areas look and in fact behave downright dangerously.

I am referring to the way people discard rubbish. In this instance at the bottle bank on La Vida car park. I have shown below pictures of before I spent over an hour tidying up. I am not looking for plaudits just trying to ensure that you all know to keep an eye out for people dumping rubbish by the side of recycling bins and to report them. This particular bottle bank was full over a week ago. So I, like many others, took our bottles to the next nearest one which is in Cucador village and was almost empty. However as you can see lots of people could not be bothered. Even worse there was at least 6 bags of general rubbish and food waste dumped there, hence the need for the long shower 

The reason I felt compelled to tidy it up was that the glass bottles lying there could easily roll into the bushes and in the middle of a heatwave start a fire. So it was not purely a charitable act as I don't fancy losing my house before I move.

In every case if the receptacle that you intend to use is full PLEASE PLEASE take it to then next one






Sunday, August 16, 2020

New Measures Poster

 

New Measures announceded Effective from tomorrow

 First. Modification of point 1 of the third section of the Order of June 19, 2020.

Point 1 of the third section of the Order of June 19, 2020 is modified, which is worded as follows:

"one. General prevention obligations.

1.1. Obligations of caution and protection.

Citizens must adopt the necessary measures to avoid the generation ofrisks of spreading the COVID-19 disease, as well as one's own exposure to these risks. This duty of caution and protection will also be required of the holders of any activity. Likewise, the safety and hygiene measures established by the health authorities for the prevention of COVID-19 must be respected.

In the event of an epidemic outbreak and when so decided by the competent public health authority, the health services will screen with PCR tests in those populations at risk and potentially exposed.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is recommended that citizens limit social encounters outside the stable coexistence group, and that these be limited to a maximum of 10 people.

1.2. Interpersonal safety distance.

The measure to maintain the interpersonal safety distance established by Royal Decree-Law 21/2020, of June 9, on urgent prevention, containment and coordination measures to face the health crisis caused by COVID-19 must be complied with. , of at least 1.5 meters, as well as the measures on the use of the mask established in the Order of July 14, 2020, on the use of the mask and other preventive measures in public health to address to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and by which the Order of June 19, 2020 is modified.

Smoking may not be allowed on public roads or in outdoor spaces when a minimum interpersonal distance of at least 2 meters cannot be respected. This limitation will also apply to the use of any other device for inhaling tobacco, water pipes, hookahs or similar, including electronic cigarettes or vaping. "

Second. Modification of letter a) of point 6 of the sixth section of the Order of June 19, 2020.

Letter a) of point 6 of the sixth section of the Order of June 19, 2020 is modified, which is worded as follows:

«A) The companies will be competent to assess the risk of exposure of workers in each of the differentiated tasks they perform and in the

 Legal Deposit: SE-410/1979. ISSN: 2253 - 802X http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/eboja

     00176642

Extraordinary no. 51 - Sunday, August 16, 2020

  BOJA

Official Gazette of the Junta de Andalucía

page 5

different scenarios in which they can be developed. Likewise, the recommendations issued on the matter by the occupational risk prevention service must be followed, following the guidelines and recommendations issued by the health authorities. In any case, these workers who return from leave and vacations, as well as the new workers who join the center, will have to have a PCR for COVID-19 with a negative result 72 hours in advance at most. "

Third. Modification of paragraph 2 of letter b) of point 1 of the seventh section of the Order of June 19, 2020.

Paragraph 2 of letter b) of point 1 of the seventh section of the Order of June 19, 2020 is modified, in its wording given in the Order of August 13, 2020, which is worded as follows:

«2nd In all other situations, family visits to residential centers will be allowed, if the epidemiological situation together with certain characteristics of the center, such as the isolation capacity and the availability of its own health professionals, do not indicate a restriction or suspension thereof. In any case, the visit will last a maximum of one hour a day. "

Fourth. Modification of the thirteenth section of the Order of June 19, 2020.

1. Points 1, 2 and 3 of the thirteenth section of the Order of June 19 are modified, in its wording given by the Order of July 29, 2020, which is worded as follows:

"one. Hospitality establishments may not exceed 75% of the maximum capacity for consumption inside the premises, except for special hospitality establishments with music defined in section III.2.7.c) of the Catalog of Public Shows, Recreational Activities and Public Establishments. of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, approved by Decree 155/2018, of July 31, that they may not exceed 60% of their capacity, although, in the event that they are dedicated exclusively to the consumption of beverages, they will not be authorized to opening.

2. Consumption within the premises may be carried out at the bar or sitting at a table, or groups of tables, ensuring the maintenance of the proper safety distance.

Friday, August 14, 2020

New Smoking Rule

Smoking will now be totally banned at all outdoor places, including the street and specifically bar/restaurant terrace areas where any person is sitting or standing less than 2 metres from the nearest other person (whether at the same table or not).

To be able to smoke at any such public outdoor venues, the smoker/vaper MUST move to and remain at a position not less than 2 metres away from any and every other person.

Consolidation Update

 Just a word to update people regarding the consolidation process for the 2 areas in the Jardines del Almanzora development.

I am advised that at this stage the first half have been formalised and published and the second half should be processed through this part soon. Once they have both been formalised and published the work to commence the documentary process will be given to a third party company and they will contact the property owners. It is anticipated this will all take about another 12 months!



Land Clearing below Swimming Pool area La Alfoquia

 I have received a number of emails querying what is happening on the land at the rear of the swimming pool on the Jardines del Almanzora developement.

I am advised that this is merely land clearing by the owner of the land. There are no permissions granted yet for building on the land. 

Thursday, August 6, 2020

Update on Local Case

The Town Hall wishes to inform you that the closest relatives of the person who has tested positive for Covid-19 in our municipality, have already obtained the results of the PCR test and have proven to be  NEGATIVE. They have advised them that, despite the negative result, they should stay in isolation for 14 days as a precaution and this they are doing.
From the City Council we are glad that this has been the case.

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Local Case of Covid

There have been lots of rumours doing the rounds about a Covid infection local to our municipality. The below statement has been issued but the Town Hall 

After the confirmation of a case of Covid-19 in our municipality, the Zurgena City Council asks residents to take extreme measures of security and to remember the mandatory use of the mask as well as to avoid crowds.
Currently the positive case is in quarantine at his home outside our municipality. We wish him a speedy recovery. 
We call for calm and responsibility, if there is any kind of change in the evolution of this case we will keep you informed.

He is from our municipality but is in quarantine in Huercal Overa

Monday, August 3, 2020

Bando - Public Notice

This is a translation of the latest Public Notice from the Town Hall 

Decree of the Mayor's Office dated August 1, 2020, on the adoption of new emergency measures in the municipality of Zurgena, in relation to the pandemic declared as a consequence of the coronavirus COVID 19.
Since the WHO declared the public health emergency of international importance due to the expansion of the coronavirus COVID 19, the authorities of the various administrations have been adopting various extraordinary containment measures.
Considering the COVID 19 regrowth wave that is occurring in our Autonomous Community and by Ende in neighboring municipalities and in order to prevent a regrowth in our municipality.
With the intention of protecting all the residents, users of the public services and personnel that provide them, this Mayor's Office, in accordance with the provisions of article 21 of Law 7/1985, of April 2, Regulating the Bases of the Local Regime
DECREES:
First.- To close the municipal sports spaces, prohibiting their
use until further order.
Second.- Close public parks and gardens, and must be sealed by the Local Police.
Third.- All the acts foreseen in the cultural field are suspended and annulled, as well as any type of celebration, promoted by this City Council.
Fourth.- Public premises will not be transferred to third parties for any type of meeting or celebration (family reunions, birthdays, communions, ect ...)
Fifth.- It is recommended to avoid group meetings of more than 15 people, in the same way it is recommended to avoid concentrations of people in Bars, Shops and other establishments open to the public.
Sixth.- This Decree will be in force from August 03 and until the circumstances that motivated it continue, and may be modified to adapt them to the new events.
It is strongly requested that they follow the instructions given by the health authorities and stay informed through the usual communication channels in order to prevent any outbreak in our municipality.

Saturday, August 1, 2020

Surprise Party

Well what a wonderful, surprising and emotional afternoon this has been.

We (Sue and I)were invited by Manolo and Lianne to a home cooked Paella at their home and we were delighted to attend.

What a wonderful surprise when we arrived to find most of my colleagues from the Town Hall also there.

Manolo had prepared, on the hottest day of the year, the most gorgeous Paella I think I have ever had in Spain. Delicious.😊

Then I must admit I became a little emotional when the words were spoken and both Sue and I were given gifts of a photograph album, of memories through the years, with our special friends, 2 friendship bracelets and a diploma each! Such thoughtful gifts from special friends.

It made the idea of leaving such lovely people, a sad affair, but as Luis said we are not saying goodbye and we shall keep returning.

Many many thanks
Luis Díaz García
,
Lola Antas
, Manuel Jesus Menchom Menchon,
Noelia García Jiménez
,
Lianne Wright
, Nono, Christina, and Jose Manuel. for a most enjoyable, emotional, happy and sad afternoon.

You will all always be in our hearts and will be most welcome to visit for roast beef and Yorkshire puddings at our English home. When we find one!