On 20 February, the Catalan government published resolution SLT / 436/2021 in the DOGC, which extends most of the restrictions in force for shops and restaurants since 8 February to 1 March 2021. Bookshops will therefore continue to be allowed to open at weekends, regardless of their location and size of sales area. The flexibility introduced in the last resolution will also be maintained in the catering sector: bars, cafés and restaurants will be able to serve tables outside on terraces and inside for an extra hour in the morning and at lunch time: from 7.30 am to 10.30 am and from 1 pm to 4.30 pm. On the other hand, shops with a sales area of over 400 square metres and shopping centres will have to remain closed. In addition, the resolution has once again extended the closure of all non-essential shops at weekends. Here is a summary of the new resolution:

Extended opening hours for bars, cafés and restaurants

Bars, cafés and restaurants must take the following requirements into account:

The permitted opening hours are as follows:

• • • • Consumption of food and drink on premises: between 7.30 am and 10.30 am, and between 1 pm and 4.30 pm.
      • Collection of take-away food: between 6 am and 10 pm.
      • Home-delivery services: between 6 am and 11 pm.

Seating capacities have to be at 30% in indoor areas, which must always be well ventilated. There has to be a guaranteed and properly indicated minimum distance of two metres between customers at different tables or groups of tables. In the case of terraces, seating capacities may be at 100%, but there has to be a guaranteed and properly indicated minimum distance of two metres between customers at different tables or groups of tables. Food and drink must always be consumed at tables. The maximum number of customers per table or group of tables is four, unless they belong to the same bubble.

There has to be a guaranteed distance of one metre between people sitting at the same table, unless they belong to the same bubble. The type and size of table must permit these distances to be respected.

Hotels may provide a restaurant service exclusively for staying guests at supper time, in accordance with the opening hours established in section 6 of this Resolution.

Restrictions on shops are extended, but bookshops can open

The Resolution of 6 February, now extended once again with and this other one, bans retail establishments and commercial premises from opening on Saturdays and Sundays, except where they sell essential and/ or hygiene products or are bookshops, veterinary centres, hairdresser salon, beauty salons, car dealerships and garden centres, which are permitted to remain open regardless of size, as long as they comply with the hygiene and security measures established in the sectoral trade plan approved by government bodies under the PROCICAT action plan.

The Resolution continues to include bookshops among the group of establishments that sell essential products and which are therefore not affected by the weekend opening restrictions or the limitations relating to sales area or location in collective commercial establishments, such as shopping centres and arcades.

Retail shops and commercial establishments that do not sell essential items and are not on the list of exceptions mentioned above may open from Monday to Friday as long as they have a sales area of no more than 400 m2, reduce their customer capacities permitted by their licence or authorisation of activity to 30% and rigorously apply the COVID-19 hygiene, prevention and safety measures established in the sectoral trade plan approved by government bodies under the PROCICAT action plan.

Shopping Centres, closed

With regard to shopping centres, shopping arcades, and commercial premises, under the extended resolution, these must remain closed. However, shops selling essential items or covered by the other exceptions mentioned above can remain open. Bookshops are also allowed to open. Shops and commercial premises that are located inside shopping centres or arcades, have a sales of no more than 400 square metres, and enjoy direct and independent access from a public thoroughfares, are permitted to open to the public on weekdays (but not at weekends), provided that they reduce their customer capacities to 30%, and rigorously apply the COVID-19 hygiene, prevention and safety measures established in the sectoral trade plan approved by government bodies under the PROCICAT action plan.