The Catalan government has decided to end almost all of the current measures in place to combat the omicron wave of the Covid pandemic. Spokesperson for the executive, Patrícia Plaja, confirmed today that the capacity restrictions and time limitations in almost all sectors affected by these measures will be lifted, but with one exception: nightlife. The removal of most of the current containment measures will take effect this Friday, January 28th.
The lifting of these measures comes in an epidemiological context in which the Catalonia's sixth wave, marked by the highly contagious omicron variant, is beginning to slow down. The current wave has set unprecedented records in levels of contagion. In the last seven days alone, 243,228 positive cases have been reported in Catalonia. However, some indicators, such as the Rt transmission index, have begun to fall, and this opens the door to the possible end of this wave.
The changes in health measures will be as follows:
- All capacity restrictions affecting bars and restaurants, culture, gyms, amusement parks, civic centres, religious ceremonies, bingo halls, gambling venues and civil ceremonies are lifted. In other words, in any of these cases, a return to 100% of normal maximum capacity for the space is permitted.
- Time limitations are removed. Thus, all businesses and activities will be able to return to their usual hours, that is, those set down by their licences.
- Limitations on social gatherings are lifted. Until now, the maximum number of people able to take part in a social gathering was 10. Although this restriction is ended, the Catalan government recommends that the restaurant sector maintain a maximum of 10 diners per table.
- The recommendation to trade fairs and congresses on avoiding in-person events is also lifted. Up till now, the use of digital means for such activity was recommended; that recommendation no longer applies. Now, these events can return to 100% in-person activity.
Note that the mask-wearing obligation still applies. The Spanish government re-applied compulsory mask wearing in outdoor spaces throughout the Spanish state in December.
Covid certificate, in doubt
One other current system used in Catalonia for control of the virus which its recent evolution has put in doubt is the use of the Covid certificate. Currently, the government of Catalonia envisages that the use of this certificate will be ended, provided that the report currently being made by a scientific advisory council confirms this. The doubt has been whether, in the new context left by the omicron variant, the Covid certificate is useful; this question has been in the air for a long time between the government and the health experts, and its end could be near. According to Plaja, it is a measure that was implemented to minimize infections and now, with the omicron variant, it is no longer effective.
Meeting with nightlife sector
This Friday, most economic sectors will be able to regain much of their normalcy, except for one: nightlife. At present, the Generalitat intends to keep the sector closed. Although maintaining the restrictions, the Pere Aragonès government is working with the sector to study how to lift the limitations. A meeting between the nightlife employers' association and the government departments involved in the sector was due to take place this Tuesday, with nightlife entrepreneurs pressing for a clear reopening plan to be mapped out.
The nightlife sector group, Fecasarm, has called on the government to immediately open nightlife to allow it to get up to speed in the face of upcoming events such as the Mobile World Congress, which will be held from 28th February to 3rd March. "Nightlife venues operate with schedules, bookings and purchase forecasts. If they do not open now, nothing can be done about it and the impact will be very great," said Fecasarm secretary general Joaquim Boadas. "Urgent rectification is needed. If it can be opened tomorrow, there is no need to wait seven or fifteen days," Boadas insisted.
Europe, omicron and the end of the pandemic
Like Catalonia, many European countries are seeing the beginning of the end of the most contagious Covid wave so far, the World Health Organization is raising the possibility that the omicron variant will end up marking a turning point in the pandemic. According to WHO European director Hans Kluge, the predominance of the omicron variant on the European continent may point to the end of the pandemic here. "It is plausible that the region is nearing the end of the pandemic," he said on Monday. Although Kluge spoke very cautiously, the WHO later saw fit to make an additional statement clarifying that it is too early to certify the end of the pandemic.
Kluge only expressed a theory that has been circulating over the period since the omicron variant appeared. "Once the omicron wave goes into decline, there will be a strong immunity at global level for quite a few weeks and months, either because of the vaccine, because people will be immune due to the infection, or, as an additional factor, the decrease in seasonality," he said.