Date Published: 03/06/2021
ARCHIVED - Murcia opposes Health Ministry disco and night club re-opening plans
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
National and regional governments in Spain disagree over pandemic rules in discos and karaoke bars
As Spain introduces more and more de-escalations of the restrictions imposed over the last few months in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic the differences of opinion between the national Ministry of Health and various regional governments have once again been highlighted by the latest meeting of the Inter-Territorial Public Health Committee, this time in relation to the re-opening of night-time leisure establishments such as discotheques and night clubs.
The Ministry is prepared to allow such establishments to open this summer but on condition that food and drinks are no longer served after midnight, at least until “herd immunity” is achieved (probably around the end of August). However, this proposal met with the active opposition of various regional authorities including those of Murcia, Madrid, Andalucía, Catalunya and Galicia while the Basque Country, Castilla y León and Melilla abstained, meaning that those representing two thirds of Spain’s population did not support the idea.
The Ministry also intends to force the closure of all bars and restaurants by 1.00 in the morning, irrespective of the latest coronavirus data in the region where they are located, a move which the Murcia Health minister Juan José Pedreño considers to be a backward step.
Specifically, the Ministry proposes a new scale of contagion risk for the 17 regions of Spain based on the 14-day coronavirus incidence rate, identifying 4 levels: below 25, 25 to 50, 50 to 150 and above 150. At levels of above 150 no night-time leisure establishments would be allowed to open, a restriction which would currently apply to Andalucía, Aragón, Madrid, Melilla, País Vasco and La Rioja.
But such is the level of opposition to the latest restrictions that it should not be taken for granted that they will be implemented in the currently proposed format, and the inherent contradiction of allowing discotheques to open but to insist that clients remain seated at tables rather than dancing may yet force another re-think.
In the Region of Murcia, shortly before the Ministry rules were made public the regional government had issued its own Order on the same topic, allowing pubs, discos, dance halls, karaoke bars and other establishments to offer hospitality services under the same restrictions as other bars and restaurants, although again only until 1.00. In other words, allowing customers inside up to 50 per cent of capacity in low or medium risk conditions and 30 per cent in times of high risk.
The same Order forbids the use of dance floors and drinking at the bar, and even amateur performances except in karaoke bars where specific anti-Covid protocols are implemented.