After weeks of uncertainty, the Catalan government has finally unveiled its definitive de-escalation plan, now that it appears that the worst of this autumn second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has passed. This new plan will take effect from next Monday, November 23rd, and is organized as follows:
Bars and restaurants
- Bars and restaurants can open from 6am to 9:30pm, thus respecting the curfew at 10pm.
- Bar and restaurant terraces can be filled to 100% of their capacity with a maximum of four people per table (the maximum remains at four even if two tables are combined).
- In interior spaces, the maximum occupancy allowed will be 30% of normal capacity.
Culture and entertainment
- Cinemas, theatres, auditoriums and concert halls will be able to open to 50% of normal capacity. The maximum total number of people at an event will be 500.
- Museums, libraries and exhibition halls will go from 30% of capacity to 50%.
The Teatre Victòria in Barcelona, closed / Photo: ACN
Shops
- In shop premises with floor area of less than 800 m2, the limitation to 30% of normal maximum capacity will continue.
- In shop premises with floor area of more than 800 m2, the entire space can now be reopened, to an occupancy of 30% of capacity.
Sports
- Outdoor sports activities will be allowed with a limit of 50% of normal maximum capacity and with access to the facility controlled.
- Gyms and sports pavilions will also be able to reopen up to 30% of maximum capacity, but by prior appointment. Changing rooms will remain closed, except for those in swimming pools.
Education
- Face-to-face activity in infant, primary and secondary schools will continue as at present, along with telematic teaching activity in secondary school and universities.
- Non-regulated teaching, such as that of language academies and evening classes, can reopen with a maximum of six students per class.
A Catalan classroom during the pandemic / Foto: Sergi Alcàzar
Leisure and religion
- Indoor children's play areas, street festivals, bingo halls, casinos and gambling centres will remain closed.
- Children's playgrounds can continue to be used until 8pm, as at present.
- Religious events and civil ceremonies can be held with occupancy of 30% of the maximum capacity.
The Catalan government's approved "Plan for gradual reopening of activities" in response to the second wave of the coronavirus epidemic.
Phase 2
From December 7th, if the Covid-19 indicators have improved sufficiently, the restaurant and hospitality sector will be able to increase the capacity of interior spaces up to 50%. Cinemas, theatres, auditoriums and concert halls will go from a capacity of 50% to 70% (maintaining the maximum gathering size of 500 people).
Shops on the street will also increase capacity for customers to 50% of the normal maximum, but shopping malls will remain limited to 30%. The current limits on weekend mobility will be eased from municipal boundaries to county boundaries. Indoor children's play areas, street and village festivals, bingo halls, casinos and gambling centres will remain closed.
Phase 3
If the indicators continue to improve, Phase 3 will start just in time for Christmas, on December 21st. Maximum gathering size will be extended to ten people. In this phase, nighttime curfew will continue, but all other mobility restrictions will no longer apply. The maximum occupancy of interior spaces in bars and restaurants will remain limited to 50% of their capacity.
Museums and exhibition halls will increase their maximum occupancy to 70% (the limit of 500 people will be maintained in the cultural and entertainment sector), and the same 70% limit will also apply to outdoor sports facilities and equipment. However, indoor sports spaces and gyms will still have occupancy limited to 50%. Religious and civil events will also increase their allowed occupancy to 50% of capacity.
Thus, according to the schedule approved by Procicat today, Christmas gatherings will be allowed to reach a maximum of 10 people. Entering or leaving Catalonia will not be possible, but travel throughout the whole of Catalonia will be allowed. However, the Catalan executive has agreed to consider whether on certain days some measures can be made more flexible.
Phase 4
This is provisionally due to start on January 4th, and would enable those secondary students currently having telematic lessons to return to the classroom, while sports competitions will also be revived. In terms of culture and entertainment, theatres, cinemas and concert halls will be able to increase their occupancy to 70% with a numerical maximum of 1,000 people.
The capacity limit for the interior spaces of bars and restaurants will remain at 50%.
On the other hand, shopping mall restrictions will be eased so that all shops, in malls or on the street will be able to have an occupancy of 50%. Children's indoor play areas, street festivals, bingo halls, casinos and gambling centres will still remain closed.