Five years have passed since the state of emergency was declared in Spain on March 14, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those first days of lockdown marked a turning point in people's lives. It seemed as if the world had come to a standstill. Society was forced to adapt to a new reality filled with uncertainty and restrictions.
The lockdown, which lasted 100 days, was a challenging experience for many. The feeling of isolation, emotional and psychological difficulties, and the adjustment to teleworking or online education affected millions of people.
The streets were empty, but every evening they filled, for a few minutes, with applause in gratitude to all those who exposed themselves and faced the virus.
It was a period in which many people showed impressive resilience, finding ways to stay connected through video calls, social media, and home-based activities. And indeed, many of these initiatives, which made work easier in those days, are here to stay.
With the easing of lockdown restrictions, hope began to emerge once again. Although restrictions began to ease, fear of the virus spreading remained, so people had to learn to live with new rules and habits, such as wearing masks and social distancing.
Today, we've practically returned to "normal." The mask, that almost unknown accessory we once viewed as solely for medical purposes, is still present in our lives. In fact, to a greater or lesser extent, it's now a common product. Face masks appear in the event of any serious infection. Although the data is no longer relevant, there are still cases of COVID, and waves of infections at certain times of the year, but the pandemic is now part of our lives.
But what have these five years been like? How has the pandemic evolved? And how has society reacted and adapted after this difficult time? We spoke with the most representative voices from each sector of the Marina Alta region.
In the health field
The vaccines came as a relief to the situation we were experiencing. From the Department of Health of Dénia, Dr. Antonio Valdivia, head of the Preventive Medicine Service, emphasizes that vaccination was key to reducing COVID-19 admissions. "At the beginning of the pandemic, healthcare centers faced an unexpected and difficult-to-control situation. With the arrival of protective equipment and vaccination, the situation improved, reducing the risk to professionals." Indeed, all medical and healthcare professionals, regardless of their specialty, worked tirelessly to save lives and stop the unknown virus that was attacking us.
Valdivia adds that the pandemic "driven the implementation of lasting changes, such as the consistent use of masks and the acquisition of a PCR machine, which allowed us to set up our own laboratory to perform tests quickly. These advances, along with effective treatments for COVID-19, transformed the hospital landscape."
The Dénia Hospital physician notes that "currently, the situation is very positive, with few infections and extremely low cases. Since the summer of 2024, no major spikes have been recorded, and hospitals have barely any COVID-19 cases. The incidence of cases is below 5 in towns with 100.000 inhabitants."
The management of municipalities
Another highlight of the pandemic was the work carried out by the local governments themselves. Days before the central government declared the state of emergency, the local governments of the Marina Alta were already on alert. News about the virus was becoming increasingly frequent, and it was necessary to keep up-to-date with the situation in order to communicate it to the public as directly as possible.
"We tried to rise to the occasion, circumstances we were facing for the first time, which generated uncertainty and anxiety for everyone," recalls Arturo Poquet, mayor of Benissa. In the town, these five years of living with COVID have meant "a process of gradual and complicated changes," he asserts. Teleworking, online meetings, and adapting to new technologies are changes that have been embraced in many areas of the workplace and that have not left the region's town councils indifferent.
Poquet highlights the "role of our school teachers in preparing projects adapted to the circumstances, so that children could continue their studies from home." Municipal leaders do not forget the work of the Health Centers and healthcare workers, nursing homes, municipal groups such as the Local Police, Civil Protection, and the thousands of volunteers who helped care for the most vulnerable. "The entire town showed its most caring side."
Of course, the role in the local councils wasn't easy. "It was one, two, or three decrees every day, with very confusing measures, such as car travel," recalls the mayor of Calp. Ana SalaThe Calp leader hasn't forgotten the uncertainty of that Sunday, March 15, the first day back from lockdown, when the municipal secretary and senior municipal technicians advised her on what to do on the approaching first Monday of work.
"Sometimes I have a hard time remembering, because it's been five years, but I'd like to emphasize that in a situation like this, you have to be strong and not afraid. We didn't have that when we made the decisions we had to make," Sala emphasizes.
From the aid and subsidies that many municipalities had to implement, to the coordination of the deployment of healthcare and volunteer assistance. Management was key, above all, in the direct relationship that mayors and regional councilors established with the population. "From here, I would also like to remember the victims and those who have been left with after-effects, some mental and others physical," concludes the mayor of Calp.
The solidarity of the pandemic
But the pandemic also revealed new forms of solidarity. Despite the restrictions, thousands of people joined together in initiatives to help the most vulnerable. The experiences during lockdown are memories that left a lasting impression on each person, especially if they lost family members due to this virus. They also taught lessons about the importance of health, solidarity, and the ability to adapt—resilience.
Associations and humanitarian aid
The support of volunteers was, without a doubt, crucial. In the toughest moments for society, then with the pandemic, and now after the catastrophic DANA, the humanitarian network that was immediately formed was overwhelming. Organizations like the Red Cross, Cáritas, and various local associations stepped up from the first minute of the crisis, even though uncertainty lurked in every area. "We were overwhelmed, in addition to all the ignorance, such as with safety measures and having to live with the fear of even walking down the street. It was hard because we didn't have a previous work pattern," says Francisco Molines Baldó, president of the Red Cross in Calp.
Food collection at the Red Cross with Francisco Molines Baldó, president of the organization in CalpIn this case, the Red Cross received instructions from the Alicante Provincial Assembly, which "told us how to manage all our work and the aid we received." The tasks multiplied overnight. "In Calp, we went from having about 230 users to about 1.200, and from doing one monthly food distribution to eight," Molines says.
In the town of Peñón, the Rotary Club and other associations collaborated with the Red Cross and Caritas through shopping vouchers. "We accompanied people and also took medications, especially to the homes of the elderly, so they wouldn't be exposed. We had no choice but to pull together, from individuals to businesses, associations, and city councils."
The Red Cross's de-escalation measures were very noticeable. With the return to work and daily life, even while still living with the virus, people were gradually able to cope with the situation and gradually dispense with services.
In the education sector
The education sector has undergone significant changes, both in public and private education. However, the most notable aspect is that these changes have served to permanently integrate into the dynamics of schools: the education system has adapted to new challenges, and the use of technology has become more established.
The president of the Association of Directors of the Valencian Community and director of the CEIP Port de XàbiaIsabel Moreno stated that the pandemic accelerated "digitalization in both schools and families. Initially, it was necessary to provide both with materials to be able to work remotely." However, this transformation has continued, as family and school relationships are now managed digitally, eliminating, for example, paper grades.
Regarding methodology, the regional ministry provided more human resources, increasing the number of teachers and reducing ratios to comply with social distancing. "This measure allowed for the implementation of methods such as co-teaching and multi-level learning. Although the number of teachers has returned to previous levels, schools have reorganized and continue to innovate in management and educational methodologies, which has been positive for guiding teaching toward the future," Moreno emphasizes.
In private schools, however, the implementation of remote learning was somewhat faster. According to Maria Eugenia Utor, Head of Studies at ESO Alfa & Omega, "schools that already had a digital infrastructure before the pandemic were able to quickly adapt to the online teaching model. This capacity allowed virtual classes to be implemented smoothly from the first day of confinement, maintaining normal school hours and direct interaction with students."
In fact, the teacher at Alfa & Omega School emphasizes that "digitalization was a pre-pandemic process, which facilitated a faster and more effective transition to distance learning. This approach has continued even after the return to in-person learning, with many institutions maintaining digital tools to complement traditional teaching."
Regarding potential COVID infections today, Utor notes that "the situation has changed significantly. Although protocols were once strict, COVID is now perceived as just another disease; there is no longer a widespread fear of the virus, and preventative measures are more relaxed."
In the business sector
For businesses and the hospitality industry, those months were devastating for the economic sector. Thousands of self-employed workers had to close their doors, leading to an increase in the unemployment rate. The Observatory of Marina Alta analyzes the impact of COVID-19 in the Marina Alta region as a very significant event, "especially in key sectors such as hospitality, commerce, and tourism, which were severely affected. The region has a large number of micro-businesses, which amplified the negative effects."
The region was preparing for the busy season, after the Fallas, waiting for Easter to kick off the summer. It was a hard blow, as the refrigerators and pantries of bars, restaurants, and hotels were overflowing, but "as you know, everything became more complicated. At the hospitality level, it helped us unite," says Remedios Cerdá, General Secretary of the Marina Alta Hospitality and Tourism Business Association (Aehtma).
Despite being one of the hardest-hit sectors in the region, the hospitality industry "was available from the very beginning to donate all the food they had stored. First, they distributed it among their workers and then donated it to NGOs. We went all out for them." Cerdá attests that "as an industry of happiness, we kept the good side of things. We were able to emerge from that tough crisis and, as our slogan says, together we are stronger."
It's through leisure time that many of these customs have come to stay. "Now people are accepting breakfasts with a reservation, businesses have understood that welcoming protocols or table spacing must be followed. And people's habits have also changed; now they go out more for lunch and less for dinner, or they go out for dinner earlier," notes the Secretary of Aehtma.
The taxis
Quique Arbona, vice president of the Dénia Taxi Association, offers a positive assessment of the return to normality after the pandemic, despite initial uncertainty about how the health crisis would affect the sector. "We were afraid it wouldn't be the same as before Covid, but to our surprise, we're back to working the same or better than before."
However, the situation during the pandemic "was a real disaster," the vice president acknowledges, adding that "passenger traffic was extremely low, in some cases, only one or two trips were made per day." During this period, tourism, the main source of income for many taxi drivers, fell dramatically; "tourism represented only 1% of what was usual. The presence of foreign tourists was minimal, and practically all of it was domestic tourism, which ultimately remains a constant and a mainstay for the sector."
In culture, festivals and major events
If we focus on festivities and social events, the streets have regained their bustle, music, joy, and hugs. We look back to March 2020, when the Fallas were suspended. Dénia said goodbye to one of its biggest festivals. Safir Malonda, Fallera Major of Dénia 2019-2022, remembers that moment as a shocking and hard-to-believe experience. "Initially, we didn't think the pandemic would affect us so directly; we were just going about our normal lives, celebrating the first events of the festivities. No one expected that the Fallas, which were only two days away, would be canceled."
Safir sadly recalls the moment they met with Mayor Vicent Grimalt and were informed of the cancellation of the Fallas. Despite that difficult decision, Safir says that over time, it was recognized that "the decision made had been correct, especially given that the cancellation helped prevent further contagion."
Then came the de-escalation, and with it, the return of culture. Limited capacity, open-air events, mask-wearing, and social distancing were enforced. We were once again enjoying music and theater, but in a different format than usual. In fact, with the situation returning to normal, the long-awaited festivals were revived in every municipality, albeit on a smaller scale and maintaining the stipulated hygiene and health measures.
The recovery of employment
Now, five years after the pandemic, "the region's labor market has recovered significantly from job losses and business closures, rising from 10.836 unemployed people in the Marina Alta region at the end of 2019—before COVID—to 8.352 at the end of 2024," states l'Observatori. However, these figures must be taken into account that in February 2021, one year after the lockdown, the number of unemployed stood at 14.822. Likewise, the unemployment rate, which stood at 16,8% at the end of 2019, rose to 21,5% during the crisis, but in December 2024 it stood at 12%, a significant improvement compared to the regional average.
Regarding Social Security affiliation, the figure was relatively stable during the pandemic, with a slight decrease of 3,3% at the height of the crisis. Hiring has also been affected by the 2022 labor reform, which significantly reduced temporary contracts and increased permanent ones.
In short, labor market indicators have steadily improved since the end of the pandemic, reaching, in some cases, the best historical levels of the last 10 to 20 years.
And you, how have you experienced these past five years? Do you think the pandemic has left any significant changes in your life?
Lockdowns declared illegal after the fact, police exceeding their duties by becoming the direct repressors of the worst imaginable dictatorial regime, supermarket cashiers believing themselves to be authorities only to harass people for not putting a stupid rag over their mouths, but worst of all, the vast majority swallowed the biggest scam in history, for which those most directly responsible have no problem admitting to this day that it was all fake.
Hard to forget, who we are surrounded by.