ARCHIVED - Murcia High Court re-imposes restrictions on social gatherings in Murcia region
No more than six people from different households are allowed to meet
The High Court of Murcia has given the green light to the anti-pandemic restrictions proposed by the regional government, clarifying the situation in the Region as confusion surrounds the contradictory rulings issued by other courts in different parts of Spain.
Among other things, this means that a limit of six people is in place for meetings of people from different households, after the High Court ruled that such a restriction is proportionate to the public health risk in Murcia despite the Region having the third lowest Covid incidence rate at present among Spain’s 17 Autonomous Communities.
Despite the regional High Court’s backing, though, the ruling of Spain’s Supreme Court is still pending on the right to impose a night-time curfew now that the national state of emergency has ended, with the courts in Navarra having ruled an attempt to do so illegal.
The restrictions currently in place in Murcia are as follows:
Night-time curfew: the curfew is no longer in force, although in the Region of Murcia all non-essential establishments must be closed between midnight and 6.00 in the morning. This affects bars, restaurants and other leisure activities, although all-night service may be offered at petrol stations and pharmacies.
Inter-regional travel: it is now permitted to travel into and out of the Region of Murcia for any purpose, rather than only for essential reasons.
Socializing in bars and restaurants: A maximum of six people from different households may be seated at tables both indoors and on outdoor terraces.
Other social gatherings: Up to six people from different households may meet in public or on private property, pending approval of the restriction by the regional High Court of Justice.
At events such as weddings, baptisms and communions the limit is set at 100 people outdoors or 50 in indoor venues.
Facemasks: the wearing of facemasks in public is still obligatory, as decreed by the national government, except while lying on the beach or bathing. Masks must be worn while walking along the beach.
Smoking on bar terraces: this is another area covered by a nationwide decree, and smoking is permitted only away from bar and restaurant terraces and while maintaining social distancing of 2 metres.
Car passengers: when people from different households travel in the same private vehicle the number of passengers is restricted to half of capacity.
Local restrictions: the regional government of Murcia retains the right to tighten restrictions in municipalities where the Covid-19 incidence rate rises alarmingly. This will be the case at 14-day rates of over 250 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and when rates rise by 80 per cent in just one week, although in Andalucía the regional High Court has allowed some municipality closures but not others; whether they would be approved in Murcia remains to be seen!