Updated July 17, 2021.
Photo by Edu Bayer courtesy of the Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
With the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Catalunya, the Catalan government has imposed further restrictions in the region. The Generalitat announced new regulations late on Monday, July 12, with additional restrictions put in place on July 14 and July 16.
New Business Hours: Doors Closed by 12:30
One of the most significant changes has been to end all activities in public spaces by 12:30 a.m.; this includes cultural activities, concerts, festivals, restaurants and even takeaway and delivery services. Additionally, attendees at all cultural events must now be seated, which will directly affect a number of music festivals in Catalunya.
Eating and drinking in public spaces is now banned, with a number of exceptions, such as individuals taking a lunch break aone in a public space during the work day, individuals drinking a beverage or eating ice cream on their own, children in groups on school trips, participating in educational activities and summer camps.
Though not a directive imposed by the Gereralitat, the government has asked that local city councils also close their public parks and beaches from 12:30 a.m to 6:00 a.m. to prevent crowds from gathering.
Limits on Social Gatherings
Because Spain’s Supreme Court ruled in June that limiting private social gatherings is an encroachment on a fundamental freedom, the Generalitat requested permission from the Catalan High Court to again limit social gatherings to 10 people.
On Wednesday, July 14, the court approved the measure and as of Thursday, July 15, social gatherings are limited throughout Catalunya to 10 people.
Curfew Instated
On July 14, just two days after stating that the government would not seek to impose a curfew, Catalan president Pere Aragonès announced that the Gereralitat would take a more aggressive approach and put in place a curfew if approved by the court.
On the evening of July 14, the Generalitat sent a request to the Catalan High Court to impose a curfew between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. for areas of concern. The court approved the curfew measures on Friday, July 16 for cities that have a population of 5,000 or more and have an incidence rate that exceeds 400 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people. An additional 13 municipalities that are considered at high risk because of their proximity to densely populated areas will have to observe the curfew as well. The curfew went into effect on Friday and will last until at least July 23, with the possibility to extend it.
The previous curfew, which was in place for six months, was lifted on May 9, 2021 when the state of emergency ended. Because the right to move freely is a fundamental right, the government needs permission from the courts to implement a curfew again.
A legal precedent was set earlier in the week in Valencia. On Monday, July 12, a regional court in Valencia authorized a 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew for towns with more than 5,000 inhabitants that are considered high risk.
Restricting Fundamental Rights
In May, the Supreme Court ruled that health legislation can restrict fundamental rights—such as imposing curfews and limiting social gatherings—provided that the measures are essential, balanced and temporary, with a clear end date. If the regional courts rulings are challenged, Spain's Supreme Court has the final say.
Face Masks
The government of Spain has mandated that face masks must be worn when inside public spaces and in all areas of public transport.
Face masks are no longer required outdoors provided that you are able to maintain a distance of 1.5 meters between people. However, because of the significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, the Catalan government is asking that everyone wear masks at all times, even when not mandated.
If you're looking for more information about the COVID-19 restrictions in Catalunya, check out the Generalitat de Catalunya’s website or the Barcelona City Council website.
Updated July 17, 2021.