As the island prepares for its first weekend under phase 2 of lockdown de-escalation, the Formentera Department of Interior reports that this weekend security forces will be on call to see to it that islanders obey emergency orders. Interior conseller Josep Marí remarked that from yesterday, 21 May, whether in open-air public spaces, public-use buildings or other enclosed spaces which are open to the public, masks are required whenever two-metre physical distancing is unworkable.

Lifeguard and rescue service begins tomorrow at Llevant and Arenals, bringing the two beaches in line with Ses Illetes, where lifeguards have been on duty since Monday. Seven lifeguards and a coordinator will oversee bathers’ safety and compliance with rules. Conseller Marí pointed out that “at beaches too, distancing and hygiene protocols are in effect, and groups cannot exceed 15”.

22 May 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Local Police are carrying out patrols in coordination with the island’s Civil Guard officers to ensure safety measures are obeyed at construction sites. The inspection plan was developed by the Balearic Office of Workplace Health and Safety (IBASSAL), a division of the regional labour ministry.

In 48 hours, ten sites have received visits from FLP officers, and patrols are set to continue in the days ahead. The officers issue reports and forward them on for processing by IBASSAL, which will contact sites where it considers safety improvements can be made. The aim of the operation is to minimise risk of coronavirus exposure and safeguard the health of workers and islanders.

Construction firms are required to adopt preventive measures involving worker health and travel and still others for outside personnel called to intervene on site. Post-inspection reports are detail measures to be followed like maintaining safe distance, taking particular care cleaning tools and machinery and using appropriate safety equipment, among others.

Ensuring confinement compliance

Law enforcement are still engaged in controls in towns and outdoors and on local roads and highways to ensure compliance with confinement orders. From the start of confinement to yesterday, 80 tickets were issued to Formentera residents found in breach of restrictions. Interior conseller Josep Marí reminded islanders that confinement rules remain in effect and must be respected, encouraging residents to leave home only when absolutely necessary and in cases permitted by emergency orders.

23 April 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Department of Interior reports that since the state of alarm was invoked, local law enforcement have written 75 citations to islanders who failed to comply with confinement orders, namely, by leaving home for activities not allowed under the emergency decree.

Formentera Local Police now have a drone that supports the force’s surveillance operations, helping to detect residents in breach of orders. The device affords a much wider visual scope than is usually possible in many parts of the island, where ground patrols can be complicated.

In randomly selected areas of the island, the aircraft supports the police department’s normal surveillance operations by performing aerial sweeps of randomly selected areas of the island—flights that will continue as long as the state of alarm remains in force. A citation cannot be issued based on drone-captured images alone, rather, the location of possible offenders must first be determined and agents can issue a ticket once on the scene.

Drone operations, just one part of the island police force’s battery of control measures in towns and on local roads, are meant to dissuade Formentera residents from violating the rules. Formentera Local Police remind islanders that, if non-essential employees have been called back to work, other islanders mustn’t let their guard down. Shelter in place orders remain in effect and travel and social contact must still be avoided as much as possible to keep coronavirus at bay.

17 April 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Department of Interior reports that the non-profit group Bomberos sin Fronteras (Firefighters without Borders) teamed up with the Formentera fire department to deliver five protective screens to the local hospital for use by staff. The screens were made by Bomberos sin Fronteras.

An association that funds and supports development, Bomberos sin Fronteras is made up of career firefighters and volunteer fire and rescue first responders.

Pictured: a firefighter from the local brigade and Ilana Martinez, assistant director of management at the Formentera Hospital.

9 April 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera