As nightclubs and dance floors re-open, face masks remain one of Covid’s last measures

Latest: Coronavirus in Spain figures (19 Oct)

With the risk of Coronavirus in Spain having dropped below the ‘low’ threshold of 50 last week, most regions have relaxed more restrictions, and specifically for one of the last remaining sectors hardest hit by the pandemic – nightclubs.

Most nightclubs across Spain re-opened their dance floors over the weekend after months of closure. Catalonia, Madrid, the Valencia region, Asturias and the Balearic Islands joined other regions that had already relaxed measures beforehand, with only Murcia and Aragón still maintaining the ban on dancing indoors at clubs.

Since last Monday, the city and region of Madrid had also lifted all capacity restrictions on any food or entertainment venues, with the new measure applying to bars, restaurants, nightclubs, cinemas, theatres, multi-use venues and sports centres, to become ‘a step away’ from how things were before the pandemic.

Wearing face masks across Spain is still obligatory indoors at public spaces when not eating or drinking, although the measure seems to be loosely adhered to by those attending nightclubs. Drinking on dance floors is also prohibited.

Spanish Health Minister Carolina Darias said: ‘We don’t know how the flu or other viruses will behave. We will take this one step at a time, firmly, to bring accumulated incidence rates even lower, and face masks play an essential role in this.’

Some regions, including Galicia, the Balearic Islands and Catalonia, are requiring nightclubs to ask clients to show proof of immunity via the Digital Covid Certificate or passport – to confirm full vaccination, a recent negative test or recovery from the disease. However, there have been many reports of revellers being allowed to enter clubs without showing any documentation, with many now describing their nightlife experience as the same as 2019, yet having to carry a face mask for the moments when it is obligatory or enforced to wear one.

Most indoor seating areas and dance floors in nightclubs had remained closed off since early March 2020, except for two weeks in early summer 2021, before the fifth wave of Coronavirus, driven by the Delta variant, forced them to shut again.

The nightclub sector had long demanded to be able to re-open dance floors and seating areas located inside their venues, claiming it would also help reduce the number of ‘botellon’ street drinking parties. Business owners have staged loud protests throughout the pandemic to call for greater benefits to help keep them afloat, as well as to be allowed to open to a greater number of patrons.

Also read: Covid-19 Vaccinations in Spain.

Click here for all previous reports on: Coronavirus in Spain

ALSO READ: More Covid restrictions relaxed, with Madrid ‘one step away’ from pre-pandemic

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