The evolution of the coronavirus in the last two weeks will allow some town and villages in Malaga province to ease their coronavirus containment measures this Saturday (6 February).

The positive news comes after a meeting of the Junta de Andalucía’s health alerts committee on Thursday to analyse the data on the incidence of Covid-19 in the region.

Eight Malaga towns will leave the maximum alert level after witnessing a drop in the last two weeks from 1,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, so they will be able to reopen hospitality businesses and shops that are considered non-essential.

The Junta de Andalucía said that these municipalities are: Alfarnatejo, Alhaurín el Grande, Álora, Cañete la Real, Cútar, Moclinejo, Mollina and Igualeja. They will maintain their perimeter closures - where it is not possible to leave or enter the town without just cause - but at least they can reopen their local businesses. On the flip side, two new towns must close all their non-essential trade: Villanueva de Tapia and Canillas de Albaida.

There are another four municipalities that are due to leave the alert level 4 grade 1, as they have fallen below 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. This will allow them to reopen their borders. They are Archidona, Comares, Humilladero and Viñuela. On the other hand, Arenas (with an incidence rate of 509.8) and Cuevas del Becerro (500.9) are added to the perimeter lockdown list making 72 localities in Malaga province with this restriction, of which 33 are also in grade 2 – with the additional measure of closing all non-essential trade.

The measures for the new additions to lists come into force from the early hours of Saturday morning following their publication in the BOJA official gazette.

The minimum period of compliance with the measures is 14 days - even if the incidence rate decreases in the meantime.