Most Covid-19 restrictions extended until February 28

Most of the Covid-19 restrictions have been extended until February 28.

Catalonia's civil protection authorities decided on Friday morning to wait for another week before loosening measures due to the change of trend in the pandemic figures. No longer a downwards curve, but rather now it is stable "and even with a slight uptick in figures such as the transmission rate."

"We have decided to take a prudent approach in regards to most of the measures, pending how the figures progress in the coming days," reads a statement by the authority in charge of the restrictions.

Schools and children are the only sectors that will benefit from a slight loosening from next Monday, 22.

All extra-curricular activities will be allowed from now on, as well as school sports, as long as safety measures are implemented.

Leisure activities for children from 3 to 12 are also permitted from Monday.

As well as this, sports councils (consells esportius) will be allowed to run training sessions of over 6 people. Activities involving athletes who are members of a federation will also be able to participate in permitted competitions. 

Restrictions for bars, restaurants, shops, gyms remain the same

The rest of the restrictions established on February 4 remain the same. For instance, the county level lockdown continues, meaning that people can travel but not beyond their county borders. The only exceptions to this are work, health reasons, or taking care of a dependent relative. 

Bars, cafés, and restaurants will continue to be able to serve customers on-site at breakfast and lunchtimes. This means that people can sit at tables between 7.30 am to 10.30 am and 1 pm to 4.30 pm in the afternoon. 

Dining in the evenings will remain banned, a measure adopted ahead of the Christmas holidays following a surge in coronavirus cases, although takeout and delivery services are still available. 

Gyms will continue to be open at a 30% capacity.

Shopping malls (except for shops with an independent entrance directly from the street) and shops greater than 400 m2 must shut, except for those offering essential services, such as food, drinks, hygiene, pharmacies, basic necessities, orthopedics, opticians, telecommunications, hairdresser's and beauty salons, vets, gardening, bookshops, and car dealers.

Smaller shops can open Monday to Friday to 30% capacity. Only essential stores can open on weekends.

Theatres, cinemas, concert halls can open at 50% capacity with a maximum cap of 1,000 people, as long as there are sufficient ventilation and access is controlled, otherwise, the capacity must remain at 500. Museums, galleries, archives, and bookstores can open at 50% capacity.

The 10 pm to 6 am curfew will remain, almost 4 months after it was put in place, and nightlife remains shut and has been almost without interruption since last March.