Curfew extension authorised for only 19 of the requested 148 municipalities

The Catalan High Court has authorised the extension of the nightly curfew in only 19 of the 148 municipalities requested by the Catalan government. 

With no state of alarm in force, the Catalan government must seek magistrates’ approval to apply any measures that go against fundamental rights, such as the nightly curfew. 

However, the court has denied the request of the administration for 129 of the towns where an extension of the measure was sought.

In the latest request to the tribunal, the government had also lowered the criteria for which the curfew would apply, dropping the incidence rate from 250 cases per 100,000 population over the prior week to 125.

However, the High Court has rejected this and set an incidence rate of 250 cases per 100,000 population over the past seven days as the new criteria. 

Thus, judges have accepted to keep the curfew measure in force in the following municipalities:

Alcarràs, Amposta, Arenys de Munt, Badia del Vallès, Balaguer, Banyoles, Calafell, Celrà, Cervelló, Gelida, Manlleu, Martorell, Montblanc, Móra d'Ebre, Palafolls, Salt, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Sarrià de Ter and Torroella de Montgrí.

At the same time, the court has continued authorising the 10-person limit of social gatherings, as well as the 70% capacity limit in religious acts throughout Catalonia.

The nightly stay-at-home order was reintroduced in July as Catalonia faced an escalation of new coronavirus cases that left medical centres in a “critical” situation. 

In the latest pandemic update provided by authorities on August 19, 2021, the number of patients requiring intensive care for Covid-19 dropped below 500 for the first time since late July.