Date Published: 13/09/2021
ARCHIVED - Murcia region permits re-opening of nightclubs and discos
ARCHIVED ARTICLE Interior areas may once again re-open although dancing is still prohibited
On Saturday the Murcian regional health authority reported the lowest number of new infections since March, and a generalised fall in the overall incidence of more than 40 per cent in the last week, and although the average number of cases is still higher than at the beginning of the summer, the regional authorities are confident that further relaxations in the restrictions can be permitted.
The leisure sector has been particularly vocal during the last few weeks, insisting that the interiors of businesses dedicated to nocturnal leisure activities should be permitted to re-open as the weather is now cooling.
The nocturnal leisure sector in Spain is slightly different to that of the UK, with ‘bares de Copas’ where younger people gather to socialise at night being extremely popular and in major cities such as Murcia there are districts where several such establishments are located together, the principal areas where young people tend to assemble, going on to the discos and nightclubs afterwards.
The nocturnal sector was forced to close when the pandemic began in March 2020, but although permitted to re-open for a brief time, were rapidly re-closed when a rash of outbreaks amongst young people were identified as having started in nocturnal venues.
Even when the venues were allowed to re-open, they were still obliged to close their internal areas and only serve drinks outside, so although their activity is still subject to restrictions, they can at least start to try and claw back some of the revenue lost during the pandemic.
Drinks may not be served at the bar, and clients must be seated, with a maximum of six people per table. The establishments must also close by 2 in the morning and no dancing is permitted in the discos or nightclubs.
The owners of bars and nightclubs have been asking the regional health authorities for weeks to allow them to resume interior service, the body representing businesses of this classification, Hoytu, maintaining that the nightlife sector has lost almost 30 percent of its establishments since the pandemic began, which translates as 150 closed companies and about 800 unemployed workers, and that the sector has lost around 80 per cent of its sales, around 110 million euros, during the pandemic.
The health authorities have decided that the capacity of nightlife venues will still be dictated by the alert levels of each of the 45 municipalities in the region which is set every Monday by the Covid Monitoring Committee.
Capacity will be limited to 75 per cent in the localities located in low risk level areas, to 50 per cent of those at a medium level and 30 per cent for those at a high level.
This week, then, 17 municipalities can operate at 75 per cent capacity; Albudeite, Alcantarilla, Aledo, Archena, Blanca, Bullas, Calasparra, Campos del Río, Caravaca de la Cruz, Ceutí, Fuente Álamo, Librilla, Mula, Ojós, Puerto Lumbreras, San Javier and Ulea.
In 20 municipalities the capacity is limited to 50 per cent; Abanilla, Abarán, Águilas, Los Alcázares, Alhama de Murcia, Cartagena, Cehegín, Cieza, Jumilla, Mazarrón, Molina, Moratalla, Murcia, Pliego , San Pedro del Pinatar, Santomera, Totana, Las Torres de Cotillas, Villanueva del Río Segura and Yecla.
In all other municipalities only 30 per cent of capacity is permitted.
These same capacity limits also apply to the interior service areas of bars and restaurants, as listed above.
Image: Archive