Hundreds of revellers dance on the streets of Barcelona as Catalonia gets set to emerge from Covid lockdown and reopen bars, cinemas and restaurants next week
Revellers danced in the streets of Barcelona tonight as Catalonia prepares to emerge from its month-long Covid lockdown.
From Monday, bars and restaurants in the region - which includes Barcelona - will be allowed to reopen with a 9.30pm curfew as the country's Covid-19 figures continue to fall.
But locals who couldn't wait for the rules to change on Monday defiantly took to the streets of Barcelona tonight - in breach of the 10pm lockdown curfew currently in place.
A huge party was held with performances from dancers wearing lit-up outfits as jubilant locals partied the night away
Catalonia is set to reopen bars, cinemas and restaurants on Monday after a month-long lockdown forced them to close. Pictured: A reveller dancing on the street tonight
From Monday, bars and restaurants in the region - which includes Barcelona - will be allowed to reopen with a 9.30pm curfew as the country's Covid-19 figures continue to fall. Pictured: Locals held a street party tonight
Locals who couldn't wait for the rules to change on Monday defiantly took to the streets of Barcelona tonight - in breach of the 10pm lockdown curfew currently in place
A huge party was held with performances from dancers wearing lit-up outfits as jubilant locals partied the night away
The wealthy region closed bars and restaurants on October 16, imposed a 10pm night-time curfew and partially restricted entry from other regions of Spain amid a second wave of coronavirus.
But starting Monday, the regional government will allow bars and restaurants to reopen, although only until 9.30pm and with a 30 per cent cap on indoor capacity.
Cinemas, theatres and concert halls will also be able to reopen, but with a capacity of 50 per cent.
The regional government however has maintained the night-time curfew as well as the limits on movements of people into and out of the region.
'We have managed to change the dynamic of the pandemic without having to resort to a strict lockdown' like the one imposed in March during the first wave of the pandemic, Catalonia's regional vice president Pere Aragones told a news conference.
The wealthy region closed bars and restaurants on October 16, imposed a 10pm night-time curfew and partially restricted entry from other regions of Spain amid a second wave of coronavirus. Pictured: Revellers on the streets of Barcelona tonight
Starting Monday, the regional government will allow bars and restaurants to reopen, although only until 9.30pm and with a 30 per cent cap on indoor capacity. But those who couldn't wait took to the streets tonight
Cinemas, theatres and concert halls will also be able to reopen, but with a capacity of 50 per cent, from Monday. Pictured: Revellers on the streets of Barcelona tonight
Like in the rest of Spain, the number of new Covid-19 infections has been falling in Catalonia, which imposed strict virus restrictions which were harshly criticised by local businesses.
Spain is one of the hardest-hit nations in the European Union by the pandemic, with over 42,000 deaths and more than 1.5 million cases.
'The situation has stabilised (with a tendency) towards less cases, but the situation remains very worrying, because we have a high incidence rate,' Health Minister Salvador Illa said Wednesday.
The regional government however has maintained the night-time curfew as well as the limits on movements of people into and out of the region. Pictured: Revellers on the streets of Barcelona tonight
Like in the rest of Spain, the number of new Covid-19 infections has been falling in Catalonia. Pictured: Revellers took to the streets tonight