The Government of the Canary Islands has agreed this Wednesday to ban smoking in open spaces if health distances are not met, as well as to limit nightlife. Likewise, the regional Executive has approved imposing the mandatory use of masks in all spaces
The President of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, has announced these measures, which have been adopted in an extraordinary Governing Council held this Thursday, following the increase recorded in recent hours of positive cases of Covid-19, especially in people under 30 years of age and linked to nightlife. Currently, in the Canary Islands there are 28 active outbreaks (with cases diagnosed in the last 14 days), with 268 cases and 745 close contacts identified and quarantined.
The new measures agreed by the regional government will come into effect this Friday, when they are published in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands.
Mandatory use of masks
With regard to masks, it establishes the obligation to use them for all people from six years of age. It will be mandatory to wear a mask in "public roads, in outdoor spaces and in any closed space for public use, or in which it is open to the public, regardless of maintaining the interpersonal safety distance of at least 1.5 meters".
In addition, the correct use of the mask will be mandatory, and must cover the nose and mouth completely at all times. Likewise, it must be properly adjusted to the nose and chin, so as to prevent the expulsion of respiratory secretions into the environment.
The mask will be mandatory in hospitality and catering establishments and services, including bars and cafeterias. Only the obligation to use it at the time of eating or drinking is excluded.
On beaches and swimming pools, only the obligation to use the mask during bathing and while remaining in a specific space, without moving, and provided that respect for the interpersonal safety distance between all non-cohabiting users can be guaranteed is excluded. In any case, the use of a mask will be mandatory in the accesses, movements and walks that take place in these spaces and facilities.
In non-university educational centers, the mask will not be mandatory when it comes to stable coexistence groups between schoolchildren and in the rest of the school groups, when they are sitting at their desks at a distance of at least 1.5 meters.
The obligation to use a mask will not be required in the cases provided for in article 6.2 of Royal Decree-Law 21/2020, of June 9, on urgent measures for prevention, containment and coordination to deal with the health crisis caused by Covid-19
In addition to this obligation, the Governing Council, at the request of the Ministry of Health, recommends the use of masks also in private spaces, "both open and closed, when meetings of people from different cohabitation units are held".
Nightlife and restaurants
With regard to leisure and restaurants, the previous rule regarding capacity in bars and restaurants has been modified, as the maximum occupancy per table or group of tables will be 10 people, both inside and outside the premises. The separation distance of 1.5 meters between tables or groups of tables is maintained, as well as at the bar between customers or groups. The maximum occupancy per table or group of tables indoors and outdoors will be 10 people. In any case, establishments must have the aforementioned separation distance adequately signposted.
With respect to nightlife, only that which occurs in open spaces, such as terraces, is allowed. These premises may open to the public exclusively for seated or standing consumption and always in nominative reservations. Access will be through groups of up to 10 people from their social or family environment, seated or standing, and consumption will be directly served in each reserved area.
In any case, the capacity on outdoor terraces, discos and nightlife will be a maximum of 75%. In addition, interpersonal distance and the use of a mask must be maintained.
Where appropriate, security personnel will ensure that the interpersonal safety distance is respected and will prevent the formation of large groups and crowds, paying special attention to access areas and surroundings, as well as any other area where the interpersonal safety distance is not respected.
The Government also prohibits meetings and parties on recreational boats where the safety distance cannot be maintained. Likewise, the president stressed that the celebration of festivals and popular parties will continue to be unauthorized, given the current epidemiological evolution.
On the other hand, the Governing Council approved the prohibition of smoking on public roads or in spaces for public use where the physical distance of 1.5 meters cannot be maintained, taking into account the risk of contagion of Covid-19 that smoke may imply.
New screening in residences
Finally, the president announced a special attention to residences for the elderly, which implies a screening of both residents and workers.
