The Ministry of Health of the Canary Islands has recalled that nightlife on the islands will not be able to open until there is an agreement from the Regional Government in this regard.
As pointed out by the autonomous department, the measures and closing and opening hours of establishments remain in force according to the alert level in which each island is located.
Currently, La Palma, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, El Hierro and Fuerteventura are at level 1, which means a maximum of ten people on terraces, six inside (up to 75% of the venue's capacity), and four at the bar, with a closing time that will be before 00:00 hours.
Meanwhile, Tenerife, Lanzarote and La Graciosa are at level 2, which entails six out of ten people on terraces (up to 75% of the capacity), four inside (up to 50% of the capacity), and two at the bar, with a closing time that will also be before 00:00 hours.
On the other hand, the Official State Gazette (BOE) has published this Saturday the agreement of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System on the declaration of coordinated actions against Covid-19.
This agreement was approved in the session of last Wednesday of the Interterritorial Council with the votes against the autonomous governments of the Community of Madrid, Basque Country, Catalonia, Galicia, Andalusia and Murcia.
The publication indicates that the opening of nightlife venues may be authorized when the epidemiological situation of the territorial unit of reference for the control of Covid-19 of the autonomous community in which the venue is located is outside the risk levels or at alert level 1 according to the document 'Coordinated response actions for the control of COVID-19 transmission. In both scenarios, the recommendations proposed for alert level 1 in said document will be followed.
The consumption of beverages and food, both in indoor and outdoor areas, will be done sitting at tables, ensuring the maintenance of the proper safety distance of a minimum of 1.5 meters between the chairs of different tables.
In addition, the maximum capacity inside the venue may not exceed 50 percent. The outdoor terraces of these establishments may occupy all the permitted tables, always ensuring the distance between tables mentioned above and the tables will have a limit of six people indoors and ten people outdoors. The closing time of these establishments will be at most 02:00 hours, and may be extended until 03:00 hours.
Without prejudice to the foregoing, when the territorial unit of reference for the control of Covid-19 of the autonomous community in which the venue is located is at alert level 2, provided that the complementary indicators for estimating the alert level present a favorable evolution, the autonomous community may assess authorizing the opening of nightlife venues with the restrictions proposed in the coordinated response actions document.
Hospitality and terraces
In hospitality, catering and terrace establishments, as well as in beach bars and restaurants, the publication reflects that in territories outside the risk levels the permitted capacity will be 50 percent indoors, and may be increased by 10 percent if risk control measures are applied that guarantee a high level of ventilation and air quality control.
On outdoor terraces, all permitted tables may be occupied, ensuring that a minimum safety distance of 1.5 meters is maintained between the chairs of different tables.
Likewise, service and consumption at the bar is allowed, maintaining the aforementioned distance. The tables will have a limit of six people indoors and ten outdoors. At alert levels 1 to 4, the provisions of the coordinated response actions document will be followed.
The document published this Saturday in the BOE highlights that the closing time of these establishments will be at most 01:00 hours and service will stop at 24:00 hours.
Mass events and activities
Regarding non-ordinary mass events and activities, the text establishes that the risk control measures for SARS-CoV-2 transmission proposed in the document 'Coordinated Response Actions for the control of COVID-19 transmission' will be applied to all mass events that meet the definition included in said document.
The organizers of mass events, in coordination with local authorities, must carry out a risk assessment of the same in accordance with the provisions of the document 'Recommendations for mass events and activities in the context of new normality due to COVID-19 in Spain', agreed in the Public Health Commission of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System.
Depending on this assessment, additional specific measures to reduce transmission risks should be implemented if necessary. This risk assessment must be available to the health authorities if required.
On the other hand, the document points out that smoking is not allowed on public roads or in outdoor spaces when a minimum interpersonal distance of at least 2 meters cannot be respected. This limitation will also be applicable to the use of any other tobacco inhalation device, water pipes, hookahs or similar.
Likewise, smoking, consuming other tobacco products, or consuming electronic cigarettes will not be allowed in the area intended for the public of non-ordinary mass events and activities outdoors.
