The latest news on the evolution of the virus in Catalonia is moderately positive. Although the healthcare pressure continues at worrying levels, the data on hospitalizations and admissions in ucis are falling today in Catalonia for the first time since the days after the Christmas holidays. There are 56 fewer patients hospitalized for Covid-19 and 7 less critical patients than yesterday. “It is the first significant decline after the holidays. We are beginning to leave the epidemic peak of the third wave behind ”, admitted Marc Ramentol, Secretary General of Health, during the press conference to present the new measures.
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Miriam Elies
The rest of the indicators also decreased: the accumulated incidence at 14 days went from 569.83 to 564.58; the risk of regrowth falls four points in the last 24 hours and stands at 501; the positivity rate has also decreased; and the R remains at 0.92. In this context, the Department of Health today announced the new measures that will come into force as of next Monday, February 8. These are some of the things that change:
I have to go exchange some Christmas presents. Will I be able to do it from Monday?
If you have to do this in a shopping center, you won’t be able to yet… unless what you have to change is a book that the Kings bought in a bookstore. In that case, you can do it, because from now on these venues are considered cultural facilities and are exempted from the restrictions of other businesses. Therefore, they can open with 50% capacity. Restrictions on the rest of the shops do not vary: from Monday to Friday they can only open premises of up to 400 square meters; and on weekends only essential establishments are allowed, such as supermarkets and pharmacies.
How many people can we meet in a restaurant to eat?
The same as so far, four. And only for breakfast or lunch. The only things that change are the hours: bars and restaurants may open one more hour in the morning (from 7.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.) and at noon (from 1 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.). After that time they will remain closed and can only be served at home, so dinners away from home are still prohibited.
Under what conditions can social gatherings be held?
Only for a maximum of six people belonging to at most two stable coexistence bubbles.
I am from Barcelona and I have not seen my partner since Christmas, who lives in another municipality. Can we meet from Monday?
Only if the municipalities in which you reside belong to the same region. That is, you can go to L’Hospitalet or Badalona, but not to Mataró.
Are the gyms finally open?
Yes, but with restrictions. The capacity will be limited to 30% and group activities are still limited to a maximum of six people. The changing rooms and showers remain unused, except for those who use the pools.
I take my daughter to a dance school. Have these activities also been reopened?
Only activities carried out in music and dance institutions that have a specific administrative authorization from the Department of Education are retaken. They are a very specific type of schools that serve as preparation for access to professional education in these areas. In other words, the vast majority of music and dance schools remain closed.
And the rest of extracurricular activities?
Presence is still suspended in this area, except for those activities organized by schools and in which the bubbles of educational coexistence are respected.
Can non-professional sports competitions be resumed?
Very partially. Most of them are still suspended, both school and federated. Until now, only professional or state-level competitions were allowed. Starting next week, another exception is added: competitions that are at the level immediately prior to these may be resumed. That is, the leagues that give access to professional or state competitions. For example, in the case of Catalonia, activity could be resumed in the First Territorial Soccer Division (which gives access to the Third Division, which is already statewide) or in the First National Basketball Division, which gives access to the EBA league. Now it is up to the federative officials to decide if the competitions that have been suspended for several months can be resumed at this point.
What changes for college freshmen?
Virtual teaching is generally maintained at the university, but in the case of the first year of the university degree, blended learning is authorized, as is already the case with training cycles. As in the case of sports, the details on under what conditions these classes will be retaken will depend on each educational center.