The Government of the Canary Islands has approved this Thursday a decree law that updates the table of sanctions for non-compliance with the rules issued to contain the coronavirus pandemic and that includes fines of up to 3,000 euros if the mask is not used repeatedly.
This was announced by the Executive's spokesman, Julio Pérez, after the meeting of the Governing Council - which has been suspended and will resume this Friday afternoon - in which he stressed that the "hardening" of the sanctions "was necessary" to comply with the "double objective" of facilitating the work of the security forces and "producing a message to the citizens that whoever does not comply risks an important sanction".
The new decree, which will be published this Friday or Saturday in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC), maintains the minimum fine for not wearing a mask at 100 euros, although it raises it to 3,000 if the same person is caught again violating this measure.
This decree law contemplates as a very serious infraction (with a fine of 60,001 up to 600,000 euros) the breach of the capacity limits established by the orders or measures in force related to Covid-19, when the effective capacity in the premises exceeds by 100% the permitted capacity and, in addition, that effective capacity is greater than 150 people.
In addition, it will also be considered a very serious infraction "the organization and promotion of events or any type of act in public or private spaces in which the celebration restrictions are not met, have not been authorized in cases where it is required, or the prevention measures established for these are seriously violated, when more than 200 people participate".
From 3,000 to 60,000 for drinking parties with more than ten people
As for serious infractions, for which fines of 3,001 to 60,000 euros are established, they include the consumption of alcohol or narcotics on public roads in a group of more than ten people (if the number is lower it would be considered a minor infraction); as well as the breach of mandatory isolation by people who test positive for Covid.
In addition, this category also includes the organization and promotion of events that violate prevention measures, when the capacity is between 20 and 200 people; or the breach of capacity in a premises that exceeds by 50% the maximum allowed and is greater than 20 people.
Serious infractions will also be considered, among others, the breach of the obligation to disable the dance floor for this use; as well as keeping a worker in his job, in any type of establishments, homes, centers and residences of social services, when it is known that he has obvious symptoms of having contracted the disease, or has tested positive for Covid-19.
In addition, this category of serious infractions includes preventing any inspection activity or verification related to the facts; resistance to providing data or obstruction to providing data, as well as the provision of inaccurate information and refusal to collaborate with the health authority, the corresponding authority agents and the different police forces.
From 100 to 3,000 euros for minor infractions
Finally, minor infractions, which involve fines of 100 euros up to 3,000 euros, include from breaches in the use of masks or the prohibition of smoking in the street or on terraces without a safety distance, to refusing to take coronavirus tests.
It will also be considered a minor infraction the breach of quarantine by people who have been close contacts of a patient diagnosed with Covid; as well as other less serious breaches regarding the capacity in the premises and the rules that must be followed inside; or participation in private or public events that do not comply with the restrictions that are in force.
Prescription and accessory sanctions
Infractions classified as minor will prescribe within one year, those classified as serious, within two years; and those classified as very serious, within three years.
In cases of serious infractions, depending on the seriousness of the facts, risk and circumstances, it may be agreed as an accessory sanction, after hearing the interested party, the closure of the premises or establishment where the infraction occurred or the prohibition of carrying out the activity, for a maximum period of three months.
Similarly, in cases of very serious infractions, it may be agreed as an accessory sanction, after hearing the interested party, the closure of the premises or establishment where the infraction occurred or the prohibition of carrying out the activity, for a maximum period of three months.
