Balearics ban party boats under new Covid-19 restrictions

OBJECTIVE: The new restrictions are aimed at halting an increase in Covid-19 cases on the islands in recent weeks CREDIT: Francina Armengol Twitter @F_Armengol

THE Balearic government has banned party boats and daytime pool parties under new restrictions aimed at trying to control a recent increase in the number of new Covid-19 cases on the islands.
THE Balearic government has banned party boats and daytime pool parties under new restrictions aimed at trying to control a recent increase in the number of new Covid-19 cases on the islands.
Regional president Francina Armengol and Balearic Health minister Patricia Gomez announced the prohibitions on Monday following a videoconference meeting with the presidents of the four islands’ administrations, representatives of the FELIB Federation of Local Entities and Palma city council to reach agreement on the latest restrictions.
The new measures, which came into force on Tuesday, also include reducing maximum capacity in places of worship from 75 to 50 per cent, a ban on selling alcohol on boats carrying tourists and making it compulsory for businesses to display on the exteriors of their premises their opening and closing hours, their maximum capacity, and the obligation to abide by safety measures.
A further restriction introduced in the islands is sports team training sessions must be with no physical contact for a fortnight, while the start of all sports competitions has been pushed back to at least October.
Outdoor event numbers are now limited to 1,000 people in the open air and to 300 indoors, and all must be with the prior authorisation of the regional Health ministry.
The Balearic government is also recommending that all travellers entering the archipelago from countries currently worst affected by the pandemic self-isolate.
The remaining measures coming into effect tomorrow are in accordance with what was unanimously agreed on Friday by the Spanish Health Ministry and the heads of the country’s regional governments.
Limitations on nightlife and a ban on outdoor gatherings with alcohol were already in place in the Balearics. To these are added a closing time for all cafes and restaurants by 1am, a limit of no more than 10 people per table, and a prohibition on smoking in public spaces where it is not possible to keep at least two metres from other people.
Armengol made it clear the purpose of the new measures is to “reinforce health safety, break the chains of transmission of the virus and reduce situations of risk in the social sphere.”
She also underlined the need for everyone to behave responsibly, pointing out people of al have ages have contracted the virus.
“No-one is beyond risk”, she stressed.

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Cathy Elelman

Cathy Elelman is the local writer for the Costa de Almeria edition of the Euro Weekly News.

Based in Mojacar for the last 21 years, Cathy is very much part of the local community and is always well and truly up on all the latest news and events going on in this region of Spain.

Her top goals are to do the best job she can informing the local English-speaking community, visitors to the area and the wider world about about the news in Almeria, to learn something new every day, and to embrace very new challenge this fast-changing world brings her way.

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