ARCHIVED - Pandemic curfew to be re-introduced in Barcelona and much of Catalunya
The Catalan government responds to soaring incidence rates by re-establishing night-time curfew
The regional government of Catalunya, where the coronavirus incidence rate is currently the highest among the 17 regions of Spain and 1 in 100 people has tested positive in the last 14 days, has announced its intention to re-introduce a night-time curfew in an effort to curb the spread of the pandemic in 158 municipalities, including the provincial capitals of Barcelona, Tarragona and Girona.
The Catalunya health service is being overwhelmed by the surge in Covid infections and it is reported that almost a quarter of all beds in intensive care units (23.54 per cent) are occupied by coronavirus patients. In response, two months after the curfew was lifted it is the intention of the government to re-establish the restriction between 1.00 and 6.00 in the morning in some of the worst affected areas for at least a week, although the policy is yet to receive approval from the regional High Court of Justice.
As well as three of the four provincial capitals in the region (the only one excluded is Lleida), the major towns and cities affected include L'hospitalet de Llobregat, Salou, Terrassa, Badalona, Sabadell, Mataró and Santa Coloma de Gramanet.
Pere Aragonès, the president of the Catalan government, described the decision as being difficult but necessary in the context of the current pandemic situation, and it has also emerged that the curfew will be policed by the regional Mossos d’Esquadra force, with fines of between 300 and 6,000 euros for transgressors. As has been the case with previous curfews, exceptions are to be made for essential trips such as those made for medical reasons, people travelling to and from work and others.
The re-introduction of curfew comes just two days after the Catalan government restricted the opening hours of all businesses by establishing a closing time of 00.30, as well as limiting the number of people allowed to gather socially to 10.
Image: Pere Aragonés announces the decision of the regional Covid committee