Health authorities to consider moving curfew forward to 8 pm

Health authorities will consider on Wednesday moving the curfew forward to 8 pm. 

The Spanish government and the regional health ministries, including Catalonia's, will meet on Wednesday in order to make a decision. 

Under the current state of alarm in place in the whole of Spain, regional executives – in charge of implementing restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 – must set a curfew beginning between 10 pm and 12 am, and finishing between 5 am and 7 am. 

On October 25, 2020, the Catalan administration decided to impose the curfew from 10 pm to 6 am, which has been uninterruptedly in operation until now, except for a slight loosening in the key Christmas nights. 

In the last health ministers' meeting, three regional representatives raised the issue, and last week, the government of Castilla y León region implemented the 8 pm without it being permitted by the state of alarm. 

The Spanish executive will appeal this decision, but at the same time, it accepted discussing the matter on Wednesday, urging for "consensus" in any restriction to be introduced. 

"Our government wants loyalty in the decision-making and it is all about finding a balance between the health protection with the least possible economic and social damage to our companies and workers," said Spain's industry, trade and tourism minister, Reyes Maroto. 

The Catalan cabinet has not made its stance in the debate public.