The Spanish regions who record low rates of new coronavirus infection will be able to reopen nightclubs before herd immunity is achieved, which is expected by mid-August, Health Minister Carolina Daria said today, after a meeting with regional authorities.
Regions with a 14-day alert rate for infections below 50 per 100,000 people will be able to open discos and nightclubs until 3 a.m., although some restrictions will remain in place.
It was unclear whether dance floors would be allowed to reopen and party attendees – up to six people indoors – would still be required to wear masks, according to local media.
“A gradual and progressive return to normalcy is needed. “We have to learn our lesson,” Carolina Darias told reporters.
The health standards are set by the Spanish regions, although according to the minister, this is not binding.
Madrid, where bars and restaurants are already open until 1am, despite being one of the top five regions in the country with the highest infection rates, rejects the criteria and wants more flexibility.
Spain’s overall infection rate has dropped to 118.5 cases per 100,000 today, almost half of the end of April, but only the Balearic Islands, Valencia and the pocket of Ceuta meet the required limit of less than 50 cases per 100,000 people.
In low-risk areas with a declining rate of infection – recorded in most of the country – event venues may also be open but with a capacity of 30% indoors.
Despite the drastic reduction in the number of new deaths, the official number of victims of Covid-19 today exceeded the limit of 80,000.
With most Spanish nightclubs welcoming customers only after midnight and staying open until late in the morning, the minister’s proposal was welcomed by the industry.
“The only good news is that they allow us to open, but obviously it is not worth staying open until 2 in the morning,” Ramon Mas, head of the Spanish nightclub association Espana de Noche, told state-run TVE.
Although he is convinced that the vaccination rate will allow the industry to recover as 10,000 clubs and discos remain closed for more than 14 months, he said the government’s plans are not accompanied by a timetable for delaying the closure or improving the number. capacity.
Mas pointed out that clubs could offer a safer alternative than street parties, which have been a common occurrence in Spanish cities on weekends since the state of emergency ended last month and nightclubs could help in the recovery of tourism.
“Tourists will come if they have the opportunity to have a good time and the alternative for closing at 2 in the morning is a very limited option,” he told TVE.
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