Catalan children and teenagers will be able to go outside for two hours starting next week. The Catalan Territorial Plan of Civil Protection (Procicat), approved this measure on Saturday, together with the Catalan interior ministry and Youth and Adolescence DG. It explained the conditions and requirements at the Catalan government’s daily press conference. The exact date on which children will be able to go out to the streets has yet to be determined, subject to the healthcare professionals' consideration that the appropriate conditions have been met.
The authority to approve this proposal lies with the Spanish government. Tomorrow, Catalan president Quim Torra will relay the proposal at the presidents- meeting and the Catalan government hopes that "it will be technically evaluated as has been done by Procicat", said the spokeswoman and minister of the presidency, Meritxell Budó.
How and when will children and adolescents be able to go outside?
It must be clear that this is not a permit for leisure, it’s a plan for children to “enjoy the open air”. They will be allowed to go out for a walk, without visiting parks or leisure areas. Catalans from ages 0 to 18 will be able to go outside, and adolescents up to age 16 will have to be accompanied by an adult with whom they live during the lockdown. In addition, those over the age of 3 must wear a mask.
One outing a day will be permitted, in different time zones depending on age, for a maximum of two hours. They are scheduled from 12.00 to 14.00 and from 18.00 to 20.00. In order to go outside, it will be necessary to carry a self-responsibility document and walking through parks or leisure areas will not be allowed. People can only walk near their home, without taking public transport.
Catalan health minister, Alba Vergés, explained that during the outing it will be necessary to keep a safe distance of two metres in casual encounters, and to take the temperature of the people before leaving the house. These meetings will not be able to last more than 10 minutes.
What about families with children of different ages?
In case of families with children of different ages, the decision of when to go out will fall on the parents. They can choose one or the other, but must only go out once a day.
Mossos d’Esquadra will watch over outings
The Catalan minister of interior, Miquel Buch, said that the security forces will "watch over" the safety of citizens in this new situation. Although this is a measure taken by Procicat, he added, "it will be adjusted according to the realities of each town, although the regulations will be the same for everyone".