Spain is introducing new restrictions, including the closure of nightclubs and limits on smoking outdoors, in a bid to curb the coronavirus pandemic amid a resurgence in infections, Health Minister Salvador Illa said on Friday
MADRID (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2020) Spain is introducing new restrictions, including the closure of nightclubs and limits on smoking outdoors, in a bid to curb the coronavirus pandemic amid a resurgence in infections, Health Minister Salvador Illa said on Friday.
"There has been a spike in disease outbreaks in recent weeks ... I announce that we have decided to take coordinated health measures, and these measures have been taken unanimously," Illa said at a press conference following a meeting with his 17 regional counterparts.
In particular, 11 new measures were approved. They include the closure of discos and night bars throughout the country, a ban on smoking in public places, including on the streets, if social distancing is impossible. In addition, bars and restaurants have been instructed to monitor the observance of a distance of 1.5 meters (5 feet) between visitors, and more than 10 people cannot gather at one table.
The authorities also restricted visits by relatives to retirement houses � only one relative can visit their loved ones at a time and only for an hour.
The minister also recalled that the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places was prohibited. Those who violate the ban will be sanctioned by the regional authorities.
Spain has seen an ever-increasing number of new positive tests for COVID-19 over recent weeks with new clusters of infections being registered in regions. A temporary lockdown was reintroduced in the Catalan region of Segria, to the west of Barcelona, in early July following a surge in new cases.
On Thursday, the Spanish Ministry of Health registered 2,935 new positive tests for COVID-19, a massive rise from the 1,690 new cases reported a day before, and the largest figure recorded since the nationwide lockdown was lifted in June.
Since the start of the outbreak, the health authorities in Spain have confirmed more than 337,000 COVID-19 cases, including 28,605 related fatalities.
