Spain’s Barcelona Asks Government to Move to a ‘Partial’ Phase 1 Without Opening Terraces or Hotels

The mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, has asked to pass onto an “expanded zero” phase on Monday which provides some more liberties but does not completely constitute as Phase 1.

The proposal does not include the territories of Alt Pendes, Garraf and the Baix Onestery area who are hoping to move into Phase 1.

If Health accepts these requests, on Monday, much of Catalonia would remain in Phase 1, except Barcelona and the metropolitan area, which only accounts for 9 per cent of the Catalan territory, but makes up 66 per cent of the population, about five million people.

This volume of population, its urban density and the fact that this area concentrates large socioeconomic inequalities are the factors that advise against progressing to Phase 1 as they suffer from a lack of confidence after the epidemic and instead have “prudence and responsibility for greater security for citizens,” said Vergés the Minister of Health in Barcelona and Colau.

The minister reiterated that the epidemiological situation is good and that the capacity of hospitals is guaranteed. Protocols have been put in place to detect each new case of coronavirus and follow up on whatever contact has been had.

Out of the 379,000 tests carried out in Catalonia, 70 per cent have been in Barcelona and its surrounding area, which concentrates the majority of cases in Catalonia. However, the detection and monitoring of cases is more difficult as there is more population and mobility.

For this reason, mobility between municipalities has been postponed for a few more days (except for work purposes), so that groups of 10 people can meet and open the terraces, even if it is 50 per cent, this is seen as the most dangerous aspect of Phase 1.

Phase 0.5

What Barcelona and its area want to do on Monday

– Open libraries to borrow books

– Open museums at 1/3 capacity

– Funerals up to 10 people

– Open places of worship with 1/3 capacity

– Open air markets (subject to municipal conditions)

– Open social service centres

– Open educational centres for disinfection and administrative tasks

– Open scientific laboratories

– Open sports facilities for individual use (no gyms).

What is not included in this phase?

– Circulation between municipalities (except labour mobility)

– Meet groups of up to 10 people

– Open terraces in bars and restaurants at 50 per cent capacity

– Open hotels

– Cultural events (30 people / 200 outdoors)

– Nature tourism in groups of 10 people.