The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, through the Public Services area, will establish special measures for the celebration on November 1 of the traditional All Saints festival, the date on which there is a notable increase in visitors in the different municipal cemeteries.
To avoid crowds, the cemeteries will remain open from 08:00 to 18:00, from Friday, October 29, until November 1. The rest of the days, their usual hours will be maintained from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Exceptionally, the San Rafael and San Roque cemetery will remain closed when under construction.
The sanitary measures already established in the municipal cemeteries are conditioned to any resolution that the Government of the Canary Islands may adopt in relation to the celebration of this holiday, given the health crisis in which we still find ourselves. All doors will have access control and will be marked with dividing lines and entry and exit signs to avoid crowds and improve mobility.
The first deputy mayor and mayor of Public Services, Guillermo Díaz Guerra, points out that “from the Santa Cruz City Council a call is made to the public to maintain prudence and avoid crowds in cemeteries, limiting the number of people attending the essential minimum and staggering the visits throughout the authorized days, having to fulfill the established norms, as well as to follow the recommendations dictated by the authorities ”.
On the other hand, the use of gloves is recommended, making the use of masks mandatory and the physical distancing established by the health authorities. Hydroalcoholic gel dispensers will be enabled at the access doors, as well as at the water intakes.
Smoking is prohibited inside cemeteries as well as any other device for inhaling tobacco, water pipes, hookahs or similar, including electronic cigarettes or vaping. Eating and drinking alcoholic beverages inside the cemetery grounds is also prohibited. And groups of more than 12 people (except cohabitants) will not be allowed to enter, and they must stay in the cemetery for a maximum of one hour.
The decoration of the niches will be reduced to the extent that corresponds to each of them. It is recommended to go to the cemeteries with the flower arrangements made. In any case, the waste that originates from the decoration of the niches must be deposited in the containers placed for this purpose.
Vehicles are prohibited from entering the Santa Lastenia cemetery from 08:00 on October 29 to 18:00 on November 1, except for funeral vehicles and funeral processions. While there will be a free bus service for the transfer of visitors to Santa Lastenia.
It will not be allowed to carry out any type of works or repairs in the cemeteries from October 23 to November 1 (both inclusive). On the other hand, perfectly identified health care posts will be established, and, in addition, an assistance service by the Association of Civil Protection Volunteers of the City Council.
In-person attention in the administration offices will be suspended on October 30, 31 and November 1, referring inquiries to the telephone and email service. On those days, cleaning routines will be increased, especially in the areas or surfaces most frequently used. The instructions of the cemetery personnel who will ensure compliance with preventive measures must also be followed.
In the cemeteries of El Sobradillo, Taganana, Igueste de San Andrés and Punta de Anaga, the Local Police will arbitrate, in each case, the most appropriate measures to facilitate access to users, in line with those of the Santa Lastenia cemetery.
Finally, in the next few days the traffic device for those days with the greatest influx to the San Lastenia cemetery will be published.
