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Date Published: 14/12/2021

ARCHIVED - Murcia, Cartagena and 12 other municipalities are at very high risk level: indoor capacity limited to 30 percent

ARCHIVED ARTICLE

There are 14 areas in the Murcia Region that will have to lower their capacity in response to rising infections

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Murcia, Cartagena and 12 other municipalities are at very high risk level: indoor capacity limited to 30 percent

The increase in the number of infections during this latest wave of Covid-19 in Spain is once again hitting the hospitality and catering industry, which will have to reduce its indoor capacity to 30% in the 14 municipalities that are at ‘very high risk level’ (level 4) this week, including Murcia and Cartagena.

The new measure was announced on Monday December 13 by the Regional Minister of Health, Juan José Pedreño, after a meeting of the Covid Monitoring Committee, in which new restrictions were decided upon in view of the advancing number of contagions and the 50% increase in the incidence rate in the last week.

Although the 14-day cumulative incidence rate in the Region of Murcia as a whole stands at around 434 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, placing it at medium risk level, the situation in 14 separate municipalities is much more complicated as they are at risk level 4: very high.

Among them are Murcia, Cartagena, Alcantarilla, Alhama de Murcia, Abarán, Cieza, Fortuna, Fuente Álamo, Jumilla, Lorquí, San Pedro del Pinatar, Torre Pacheco, Totana and La Unión.

In these cases, the capacity inside any restaurant, bar or hotel is reduced to 30%, except if the owners of the establishments ask for the Covid certificate, which could increase the capacity to one hundred percent. The 100% capacity will only be maintained in outdoor areas and terraces without a Covid certificate, where the risk of contagion is much lower.

More details: Covid restrictions according to risk level in the Region of Murcia

In nightclubs, however, in these municipalities the capacity may not exceed 30% and it will be compulsory to ask customers for a Covid certificate. This has led many owners of nightlife venues to criticise the fact that these capacity restrictions are still in place even though they are demanding a Covid pass from customers at the door.

Lower risk levels in other Murcia municipalities

There are 12 other municipalities that are at level 3 (high), where indoor capacity for hospitality businesses must be limited to 50%. Fifteen more places are at risk level 2 (medium), and four more – Cehegín, Pliego, Ojós and Ulea – that are at level 1 (low), where capacity is limited to 75%.

Bar, restaurant, nightclub and hotel owners are being asked to put posters up in their doorways stating clearly the measures that are in force, such as the use of the Covid certificate where necessary and the obligation to wear a face mask if customers are not consuming at that time.

Increase in requests for Covid certificates

Since the compulsory use of the Covid passport in nightlife came into force last week, the Regional Ministry has issued 140,000 new certificates, bringing the total figure since it was first released to more than 1,264,000.

How to get your Covid certificate

Image: Archive

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