ARCHIVED - Confirmation of restrictions this week, Region of Murcia, including car occupancy

Cartagena, Molina de Segura, Archena, Beniel, Jumilla, Librilla, Lorquí, Mazarrón, Mula, Torre Pacheco, Las Torres de Cotillas, La Unión and Yecla must all reduce interior capacity of bars to 30 per cent

This week the Murcia region has moved into level two, medium risk, and the following restrictions will remain in force until Wednesday July 21.

The whole of the region has been moved up to Level 2, indicating medium risk regionwide and 13 of the 45 municipalities within the region have been moved up to high-risk (mustard yellow).

This effectively means that bars and restaurants within these municipalities can only open the interior spaces of their premises to a maximum of 30 per cent capacity and their terrace or outdoor seating to a maximum of 100 per cent of capacity.

This affects Cartagena, Molina de Segura, Archena, Beniel, Jumilla, Librilla, Lorquí, Mazarrón, Mula, Torre Pacheco, Las Torres de Cotillas, La Unión and Yecla.

It’s bad news for the businesses within these municipalities, particularly those in more tourist-driven areas such as Mazarrón, which have been hoping for a reasonable summer to offset some of the losses sustained during the long months of the pandemic.

However, three of these municipalities; Torre Pacheco, Mazarrón and Librilla have had a lucky escape as their high incidence rates should have moved them into the red extreme-risk zone four.

The decision to maintain them at level three has been taken specifically because the regional health authority is aware of the financial implications for the businesses concerned and the outbreaks within these municipalities relate to specific localised areas, and in each case, the situation is felt to be under control.

The movement to level three does also affect larger gatherings such as weddings, and the capacity is also reduced for this type of event as well to just 50 per cent.

In addition to the capacity restrictions, clients must remain seated and are not allowed to sit or stand at the bar.

Bars may open until 2am in the morning, but must close between 02:00 and 06:00.

Buffets may re-open, providing utensils are cleaned every 30 minutes and a circuit established to minimise the contact between clients.

In these areas, the number of people in a vehicle is limited to two per row of seats.

Level 2 medium (blue): 20 municipalities are on level 2; Abarán, Águilas, Alcantarilla, Los Alcázares, Alguazas, Alhama de Murcia, Bullas, Ceutí, Cieza, Fuente Álamo, Lorca, Moratalla, Murcia, Pliego, Puerto Lumbreras, San Javier, San Pedro, Santomera, Totana and Villanueva del Segura.

In these cases, the indoor capacity of bars and restaurants will be 50% and outdoor 100%.

Low level: Jade green
All other municipalities are on low level (jade green) and may serve 100 per cent capacity outdoors  and 75 per cent capacity indoors (this has changed this week from 100 per cent in both as the region itself has moved down to level 2).

The interiors of discos and night clubs remain closed and clients must remain seated at tables in exterior areas.

Maximum group size permitted to eat together in a restaurant is 10 outside and six inside.
Other general measures:

In private cars the number of passengers from different households has been limited for over a year to 50 per cent of capacity, rounded up to the next whole number, meaning that in many cases no more than three people have been allowed in the same vehicle at the same time. The Health department of the regional government in Murcia has now raised that limit to 4 people from different households, although facemasks should still be worn when households mix in this way.

Specifically, the new rules state that in vehicles which can carry up to 9 people the number of people allowed is limited to 2 per row – in a normal car, two in the front and two in the back.

At the same time, the number of people allowed on trains, buses, coaches and the trams in the city of Murcia is no longer limited to 80 per cent of capacity, meaning a return to pre-pandemic levels of occupancy on public transport. Again, though, facemasks must still be worn by all passengers.

-No limit on number of people allowed to gather either at home or in public places (other than limits on numbers eating in restaurants, see above).

- Smoking is prohibited in public places when a minimum distance of two metres cannot be maintained, and is also prohibited in bars and restaurants and around hospitals or medical centres.

- Masks must be worn in any situations in which it is not possible to maintain a minimum of 1.5 metres social distancing although masks do not need to be worn in the street in general.