The Catalan government announced a slight relaxation of the measures against coronavirus in Catalonia on Thursday. Given the modest falls in some Covid data in recent days across the country, the Procicat civil protection committee has decided to relax some of the restrictions in force until now, such as municipal confinement, time slots for bars and resturants and sport. However, the maximum of six people and two cohabitation bubbles for social gatherings remains.
The new measures will apply from Monday 8th February and will last initially for 14 days, that is, until 21st February. These are the restrictions in force as of Monday in Catalonia by sectors:
MOBILITY
- NEW: Perimeter closure will now apply at county (comarca) lines, instead of the tighter municipal lines as up until now. Seven days a week. All entries and departures from this area are prohibited without justifiable reasons.
- Travel to second homes or to visit relatives or friends is not permitted if it means crossing county boundaries. Cultural events are not an excuse either.
- You can only leave your county to exercise or practice individual outdoor sports between two neighbouring municipalities, for travel to school or work (if distance working is not possible) and to return to your usual home.
- Curfew is maintained from 10pm to 6am seven days a week.
- Mobility for school groups is allowed as long as there is no overnight stay.
BARS AND RESTAURANTS
- NEW: bars and restaurants will be able to open for an hour longer in the morning and at lunchtime. Thus, the new hours are 7:30-10:30am, and 1:00-4:30pm.
- In these time slots, the maximum capacity will be the same: 100% of usual maximum on terraces with space between tables, and 30% inside.
- Takeaway food can be prepared throughout the day.
- A maximum of four people per table, except for cohabitation bubbles.
- Eating and drinking is only permitted at tables, not at the bar.
RETAIL
- Shopping centres of more than 400 m² will remain closed.
- Non-essential shops will remain closed at weekends: small retail stores (and in shopping centres) of less than 400 m²; as well as street markets. All these are only open from 6am to 9pm, Monday to Friday.
- NEW: bookstores are now regarded as essential cultural retail and will be able to open all week.
- Gambling centres (bingo halls, casinos and gambling rooms) are to remain closed.
SPORT
- NEW: gyms will be able to open. Sports facilities can be opened up to 30% of normal maximum capacity, and with a maximum of 6 people per activity.
- Local competitions that give access to state competitions will resume.
- Pools can open to 30% of capacity.
- Federated sport may also be held in the open air, at 50% of capacity of spaces, with groups of up to 6 people.
CULTURE
- Cinemas, theatres, auditoriums and concert halls can open for regular programming.
- Museums, libraries and exhibition halls may also open.
- Capacity must always be limited to 50% of normal maximum, with an absolute maximum of 500 people.
- If ventilation is optimal, this can be expanded to 1,000 people.
EDUCATION
- Theory classes in universities must be held by virtual means and it is recommended that secondary education reduce face-to-face activity.
- NEW: first year university classes will be able to resume some in-person classes.
- Face-to-face classes are held in infant and primary education centers and high schools.
- Extracurricular activities are allowed as long as they are carried out in the schools with the stable classroom bubble groups used by the schools. Other extracurricular activites are suspended.
- Regulated music and dance schools can open.
RELIGION
- Religious events and acts can be held at 30% of the normal maxmimum capacity.
- The absolute maximum number of people at an indoor event is 500, while those outdoors or with optimal ventilation have a maximum of 1,000.
Image: Maria López Moya
Main image: On Barcelona's Rambla / Sergi Alcàzar