Catalonia considers allowing restaurant terraces to open for dinner and 'softening' curfew

Catalonia is studying the possibility of allowing restaurants to extend their opening hours and open for dinner, first in outdoor seating areas and later indoors, interior minister Miquel Sàmper revealed in a TV interview with 324 on Sunday.

Also on the table is a "softening" of the curfew, currently in force from 10pm to 6am.

Both changes could come into force before the end of the Spain-wide state of alarm, which ends on May 9.

Cafes, bars and restaurants

Eateries in Catalonia are currently only allowed to serve food and drink on-site until 5pm. Any later, and it's takeaway or delivery only.

But, when asked about Barcelona City Council's request this week to extend those hours, the interior minister said that "it is an option that we're working on."

Sàmper stressed any changes would depend on the how the data on Covid-19 cases develops and said that outdoor terraces would be able to serve dinner first, before restaurant interiors are given the go-ahead.

Curfew

There is currently "some margin" to adjust the curfew time Sàmper said, citing the example of the Balearic Islands where it comes into force at 11pm, one hour later than in Catalonia.

The minister said that the curfew should be "softened as soon as possible," and could be "from 11pm to 4am, 5pm or 6am," he said.

Different measures within Catalonia

The government is also considering easing certain measures asymmetrically across Catalonia, for example having stricter rules in place in Lleida in the west, where Covid data is "worrying," and less restrictions in Terres de l'Ebre in the south where the infection rate is lower.

Overall though, with one day to go before the county-level lockdown is lifted on Monday, Sàmper said that "we are not doing too bad," adding that the situation is "much better than France or Italy."