Just as the Catalan government has moved to bring in a nightly curfew in towns and cities hard hit by Covid-19, the Catalan High Court (TSJC) has endorsed the earlier batch of measures announced on Monday, giving the green light so that from Thursday these measures will come into force. Thus, throughout Catalonia, gatherings will not be able to exceed the limit of 10 people; and restrictions may be placed on the use of public spaces between 12:30am and 6:00am - a measure that the Catalan government requested in order that local authorities would close beaches and public parks.
As well, the TSJC has endorsed the Catalan government's request to impose a ban on eating and drinking in public spaces. This measure has several exceptions, however. Eating and drinking outdoors will be allowed on school trips, socio-educational activities and in educational leisure activities. Thus, the picnic lunches which are typical of summer camps and colonies taking place at this time of year in Catalonia will be able to go ahead.
These measures "guarantee the balance between economic, social activity and emotional health," said the government on Monday when announcing them. Ministers Joan Ignasi Elena and Josep Maria Argimon called on the Catalan public to make a further effort: "We have come a long way during this year and a half, an extraordinary journey in which there has been magnificent restraint and responsibility from citizens and public services, but more needs to be done."
As well, curfew in 158 municipalities likely
These measures, as well as the requirement for leisure, entertainment, sports and commercial activities to end at 12:30am - which did not require court endorsement - are expected to come into force throughout Catalonia on Thursday after being published in the Catalan government gazette.
Meanwhile, the government has this Wednesday evening announced even tougher night-time confinement for Barcelona and 157 other municipalities: a curfew from 1am to 6am, in Catalan municipalities where the incidence of Covid-19 is most serious. The 158 municipalities affected are 145 towns with more than 5,000 inhabitants and an incidence rate of 400 cases or more, plus 13 other municipalities bordering these affected towns which are effectively surrounded by areas of risk.
The new curfew-based measures will now be sent to the Catalan High Court for its consideration and the intention is for this measure to come into force this weekend in the 158 towns and cities, in addition to the 12:30 closedown and other restrictions which apply to all of Catalonia.