Measures to contain the spread of Covid-19

04/03/2021 - 08:00 h

COVID-19. Bars and restaurants can open for longer hours as from Monday 8 March, but most measures such as the county lockdown and the curfew remain in place.

Most restrictions remain in place, such as the county lockdown and the curfew, but some changes to the special measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 come into effect as from Monday 8 March. The changes directly affect hospitality and sport. The new package of measures will be in place for seven days, until 15 March. (Information updated on 4/3/2021).

Mobility, travel and social gatherings

  • Entering or leaving Catalonia is not permitted, except in medical emergencies, for work purposes, care of vulnerable people, return to one’s usual place of residence and other duly justified force majeure causes.
  • Leaving the county is not allowed at any time of the week either, with the same exceptions to apply. People can also leave the county for teaching purposes, educational leisure and activities for people with disabilities (no overnight stays).
  • Mobility is restricted at night from 10 pm to 6 am, except in the same cases and for the acquisition of pharmaceutical products and the care of pets (4 am to 6 am).
  • Social gatherings are limited to a maximum of six people, and two bubble groups at the most. People are advised to limit any gatherings in enclosed spaces and to preferably meet outdoors.

Workplaces

  • Commuting should be reduced as much as possible, with priority given to teleworking and flexible working hours.

Commerce

  • Capacity limited to 30%.
  • As from 1 March, shopping centres can reopen at 30% from Monday to Friday, except for essential commerce.
  • As from 1 March, shops with over 400 m2 of floor space can reopen a space of up to 400 m2, with a capacity of 30%.
  • Only commercial establishments providing essential goods and services can open at weekends: bookshops, chemist’s, supermarkets, veterinary centres, hairdressers, beauty parlours etc.
  • Establishments must close at 9 pm at the latest.

Eateries

  • As from 8 March, people can consume food and drink at tables on the premises between 7.30 am and 5 pm.
  • Indoor capacity, suitably ventilated, is limited to 30%, and 100% for terraces.
  • Maximum of four people per table, except for stable bubble groups/households.
  • Distances of 2 metres between tables.
  • Takeaway services until 10 pm and home deliveries until 11 pm.

Culture

  • Theatres, cinemas, auditoriums and concert halls can open with 50% of their usual spectator capacity, up to a maximum of 500 people. This may be increased to 1,000 people, seated and with bookings, if the venue complies with extra ventilation and crowd control measures.
  • Libraries, museums, exhibition venues and art galleries can open, with 50% capacity.
  • Venues to close at 10 pm at the latest, with spectators allowed to return home after that time.
  • As from Monday 8 March, community facilities can hold on-site outdoor activities for the over-60s, in groups no larger than six people.

Sport

  • Sports facilities can open with 30% capacity. As from 8 March, changing rooms can re-open, with people requested to use them responsibly.
  • Indoor group sports activities can operate with 30%, while capacity at swimming pools is 50%.
  • Open-air sports are allowed with no limits on numbers. No restrictions apply to the number of people doing federated outdoor sport. As from 22 February, federated sport will be on a par with sports councils.
  • These limitations do not affect sports technical perfection and performance centres and professional sports facilities.
  • Official competitions at national, international and professional levels are allowed, as are those giving access to compete at a national level. From 8 March, regular federated sports leagues for the over-16s can resume. All competitions are without spectators.

Education and leisure for children and young people

  • At universities, as from 8 March, on-site courses can resume up to a maximum of 30% of students on site at any one time.
  • Reduced face-to-face studies in post-compulsory education (baccalaureate, further and higher education courses)
  • Extra-curricular and educational leisure activities can resume for infant and primary school pupils, in groups of six children at the most, respecting the established measures and prioritising outdoor activity. As from Monday, this also applies for pupils in secondary school, baccalaureate studies and vocational training.
  • Educational recreation activities for young children and young people suspended.
  • School outings allowed beyond county boundaries and including overnight stays, respecting school bubble groups.

Public transport

  • Service levels remain at 100%, including rush hours between 6 am and 9 am on working days.

Religious and civil ceremonies

  • Venue capacities are reduced to 30%, up to a maximum of 500 people. In open-air spaces complying with extra ventilation this can rise to 1,000 people (without exceeding 30% capacity) providing extra ventilation, air quality and access measures are met.

Nightlife venues

  • Nightlife venues are closed.

Amusment parks and fairs

  • These remain closed.

Parks and gardens

  • Parks and children’s play areas are closed from 8 pm to 7 am, and capacity is limited to 30%.

Congresses, conventions, trade fairs and local festivals

  • On-site activities suspended.

Gambling activities

  • Amusement arcades, casinos and bingo halls all remain closed to the public.

Health and prevention measures

Suitable health and prevention measures must continue to be adopted in all spaces and for all activities, with safety distances between people guaranteed.

Full information in the DOGC.