Catalonia reimposes restrictions on nightlife to stop spike in COVID-19 infections

The Catalan government decided on Tuesday to back down and closure of non-outdoor nightlife from weekends to stop the “exponential” spread of covid in this region of northeastern Spain, which is recording a strong resumption of infections, especially among young people.

“Nightlife should be closed, not in open spaces, and restrictions should also be placed on outdoor events that bring together a lot of people“, announced on Tuesday the spokesperson for the regional government, Patricia Plaja, who described the epidemiological situation in Catalonia as” extremely complicated “.

From the weekend, the nightlife spots in this region with strong tourist activity will not be able to use their closed spaces. In addition, those participating in outdoor events that bring together more than 500 people must pass an antigen test, present a negative PCR test with a validity of 12 hours or proof that they have a full vaccination.

The resolution finalized by the regional government – and the details of which remained to be clarified, according to Plaja – will also stipulate the closing of night activities at 3 a.m.

The increase in transmission in Catalonia particularly affects the youngest, still unvaccinated, and soared in the weeks following the popular feast of San Juan and the reopening of nightlife in Catalonia a few days before..

“It’s not that the pandemic isn’t over, it’s that it shows itself with a virulence that we did not yet know. The transmission rate is very high“, Warned the spokesperson after the meeting of the Catalan government, a day after this region of 7.8 million inhabitants recorded more than 6,000 contaminations in a single day.

Consequently, the Catalan independence executive wishes to reinstate the compulsory use of outdoor masks, which Madrid stopped imposing on June 26. “With the data we know today We believe that the mask should again be a mandatory item in Catalonia, but only the Spanish government can change its use“said Plaja.

The health situation in Spain has deteriorated in recent days with an increase in COVID-19 infections among young people.

“The data is not good at all“, commented Monday evening Fernando Simón, chief epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health, who explained that” these data are very variable according to the age groups “.

Faced with the deterioration of the health situation, several regions are considering increasing the limitations, despite the good vaccination rate in the country, where 40.3% of the 47 million Spaniards are already fully vaccinated.

(With information from AFP)

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