Clubs, discos, and fun pubs can reopen to the public after almost a year

The Ministry of Health and all of the Autonomous Communities (regions) of Spain unanimously approved, in the Inter-territorial Council meeting of the National Health System yesterday, mandatory measures for the new normality which will enable nightlife venues to open to the public again, until 3am in those places in alert Level 1 restrictions.

The document also establishes the closing time for bars, restaurants, cafeterias, and terraces of 1am and prohibits smoking in outdoor spaces, if people are not more than two metres apart. Also, in territories outside the risk levels, the allowed capacity will be 50% indoors and may be increased by 10% if risk control measures are applied that guarantee a high level of ventilation and control of air quality.

On outdoor terraces, all the permitted tables may be occupied, ensuring that the safety distance is maintained at least 1.5 metres between the chairs at different tables. In addition, service and consumption at the bar is allowed, maintaining the aforementioned distance, and the tables will have a limit of 6 people indoors and 10 outdoors.

At alert levels 1 to 4, the provisions of the Coordinated Response Actions document for the control of Covid-19 transmission, approved by the Public Health Commission, will be followed.

The document says that the opening of nightlife venues may be authorized when the epidemiological situation of the area is at alert level 1, with the same restrictions as now in place, meaning that “the consumption of food and beverages, both indoors and outdoors, must be done while sitting at tables, ensuring that the proper safety distance is maintained at a minimum 1.5 metres between the chairs of different tables.”

Another of the main measures is that dancing will still not be allowed, so that space can be occupied with chairs and tables. Nor may the 50% of the maximum capacity be exceeded inside these leisure premises, and the closing time of these nightlife establishments will be set at 3:00am at the latest.

However, if your area is at alert level 2, and as long as the indicators show a favourable evolution, the regional Government may consider authorizing the opening of nightlife venues with the appropriate restrictions in place.

Venues may open, if their area meets the criteria (Level 1), after the decree-law has been published in the Boletin Oficial de España (BOE) today or tomorrow.