Today 18th June 2020...The whole of Catalunya is now open to persons from Andorra with Barcelona and Lleida moving to Phase 3.....

Incidentally Australia whose land mass equals that of Europe have announced that their national airline will not fly internationally until into 2021 and the borders of Australia will also not open until into next year. New Zealand have also called in the military in response to TWO new imported cases. If we compare the two continents (not taking into account populations) since the pandemic began Europe has had 1,680,800 cases (exluding the 553,301 in Russia), with 184,806 deaths while Australia has had 7,370 cases and 102 deaths. On June 21st 2020 Europe opens the doors to travel including Andorra and on July 1st 2020 external borders open to the world. One end of the world will be judged by history to be have dealt with this correctly. The global weekly number of new cases is still rising and is now bordering on 1,000,000.

Since oil prices have now turned negative, does that mean the petrol stations will pay us to fill up the car/heating oil??

The Government are providing two facemasks each at 0.90 cents. This is distributed on the basis of your CASS card and is recorded as issued at the farmacy where you apply. The rules for passive residents are vague, I have had reports that some farmacies will issue the masks with just the residency card, others may not. I have checked with the local friendly farmacist who says that they are intended to be issued on the production of CASS cards but there is leniency in the system.

All farmacies have on order bulk purchases of their own masks and can be purchased.  Home made face covers are (also based on the websites below) more effective and of course can be washed and re-used.

Be aware that the masks on issue are one-use disposable, they are not designed for re-using and do not in any way lower the need for washing hands and sanitising.  This is the type of mask that is being issued. Please pay attention to what not to do, no touching, and correct way of disposal in the links below.

The number of visitors to Andorra for February 2020 shows a significant increase of 9.2% over the previous year to 746.678 visitors, predominantly of course from France and Spain. It is interesting to note that the first case of coronavirus in France was 23rd January 2020 and in Spain 30th January 2020. The border began partial restriction on 16th March 2020.  The first case diagnosed in Andorra was March 1st 2020.

On 16th March, in Spain the number of cases was 9,942 and 342 deaths, and in France the figures were 6,473 cases and 148 deaths.

Hopefully for the same reason that Andorra has little or no crime in that they can close two simple roads that come in and out of the country will be the reason why Andorra logically should be one of the safest countries on the planet. The current quarantine lockdown period has been extended indefinitely "until further notice" and still may even may be tightened to a possible state of emergency (the next and final level which can order people not to leave their houses without permission, limit supplies and generally place the country on a "war footing") until such time as no new infections are reported. The state of emergency thankfully may not be needed as Andorra is abiding by the confinement and restrictions.

With effect from 18th March 2020 everything, businesses and non essential areas has been shut except farmacies, supermarkets, and petrol stations. The EU has closed all external borders which includes Andorra however there have been exemptions for Andorra to have commercial deliveries and those justified in travelling ( medical, emergency and diplomats). So rest assured though that lorries and deliveries are continuing to be allowed in and out and that it is clear on the streets there are quite a few deliveries taking place for supermarkets and other businesses such as butchers.

Those workers who are not allowed to work due to virus exposure either themselves or within the company will be treated as on sick leave and will be paid by the CASS accordingly. The Andorran Government has been quick to announce a series of measures intended to help both local businesses and workers. There are reductions in the Cass contributions and allowed delays in paying electricity and phone bills as well as fines(!)  Law and order is still very much a part of life,  parking fees have also been relaxed in some parishes. and if you are concerned about official documentation, and that includes renewals of residencies, applications, driving licenses and the rest please see here. I will try to keep you updated as to how the government battled through this very difficult time.

Currently the answer is yes through both the French and Spanish side. As a returning resident they will allow you entry but you MUST self isolate for 14 days, it is now obligatory.

There may be an issue concerning second homes: If you are a returning resident why are you returning? If you have a property in A N Other country, why do you need to come to Andorra, this is the type of question you will need to be prepared for in addition to crossing the neighbouring countries and enforcement of those authorities. Stay where you are is 100%.

Spanish and French residents in Andorra are also likewise allowed to enter their respective countries.  For Andorran residents wishing to get out, that is more of an issue and justifiable reasons need to be given. Andbus is still running a limited service for those with airport tickets but in reality everything is changing at short notice so beware and be safe. For entry into France you must register in advance and have with you the printed certificate for inspection on demand. This also however, does not guarantee entry!

If you are not a resident and trying to enter you must have a valid and acceptable reason to do so.  you cannot.

 If you are here in person then the active desk can make appointments for regsitration of births, and changes of civil status as well as new applications. The latter is a little mystifying as non residents are not allowed into Andorra, and yes you guessed it, coming to make an application for residency is not an acceptable reason!

A recent returning resident has advised that airlines into Spain are only allowing Spanish residents on (presumably the same for France). I recommend you not only have your residency card with you but also a printout of the Schengen accord with France, Spain and Andorra and be prepared to argue up as many levels of management as possible. Remember the quarantine isolation period of 14 days for returning residents in now obligatory rather than advisory.

I will do all I can to update news on various aspects, but it looks like we are in for the long haul. If you are waiting for your new card or process then waiting is really all you can presently do, especially if you are not here in Andorra!

The object of this confinement is to prevent the virus spreading from one to another by being given the chance, it is a social disease. Ideally they would like everyone not to go out at all, in an ideal world this would starve the virus of new hosts and it would die out by either the immune system killing it or it killing the host as is happening.

Realistically there are essential human needs so they advise (and at this stage it is only advice, the police do not yet have the powers to fine individuals as these needs are regarded as a human right). This may change with the State of Emergency laws that have been passed but NOT yet activated.

If it comes to the state of emergency laws being promulgated all of the above will change, the police will have the right of enforcement to prevent people going outside at all if necessary, they can also limit the basic essentials of supermarkets, food supplies and other methods to focus 100% on the "war".

Speaking of wars, the generations before were both conscripted and offered their services to the battle at the frontline, with a life exepctancy in no mans land of no more than 10 minutes in filthy rat infested trenches whilst suffering the agony of typhoid, trenchfoot and mustard gas. This generation is being asked to go home, sit on the sofa, and watch Netflix, not that hard surely.  Good to see in Andorra that this is happening, sad to see in other countries it still has not yet sunk in !!

Stay safe.....

ANDORRA - The health minister declares Andorra to be advanced in the use of chloroquinine ( Used against malaria years ago) and will be available to even those with light symptoms to lessen the level of contagion... On 25-04-2020 it was announced that Andorra was no longer taking part in a study to diagnose the effectiveness of chloroquinine due to legal and insurance problems (?).

SWEDEN - Swedish hospitals abandon trial of promising malaria drug chloroquine for coronavirus patients after it caused them blinding headaches, vision loss and agonising cramps