Nightlife can re-open and bars can stay open till 1am in Level 3 from today!

The Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC) has published today, Monday, the decree-law of anti-Covid measures that will be sent to parliament to be passed as a bill so that they are protected by law and the regional Government can implement them to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The document, which is almost 80 pages long, covers all the previous restrictions over the last 18 months, has clarification of regulations in the different alert levels, means that nightlife can reopen, and allows certain employers in certain situations, set by the Ministry of Health, to require employees to have been vaccinated or have had a Covid test to carry out their work.

The decree-law states that it will be in place until the pandemic officially ends nationally by declaration of the Ministry of Health, and maintains all the ‘usual’ measures of social distancing, use of masks, spacing of tables & chairs, cleaning and disinfecting, and no drinking in public, among others.

In fact, it enforces the responsibility of business owners by saying: Any person who owns an economic activity for public use, must ensure that prevention and hygiene measures are adopted, including cleaning and disinfection, as well as the measures of capacity and safety distance appropriate to the characteristics of the establishment's premises. Likewise, the use of masks must be expressed to the public and must include the workers themselves.

The good news is that nightlife can reopen, with no dancing, and that Karaoke is allowed again bars. However, regarding karaoke, it states that participants must wear a mask during their intervention (singing), and the microphone they use must be sanitized before use by each person. Also, a safety distance of at least 2 metres must be maintained between the participants, and between them and the public watching.

The main point that the majority of the public wants to know, is what restrictions are decreed in the alert Levels, and when do they apply. Here is an overview of Levels 1 and 3 as they are the levels all of the islands are currently in:

LEVEL 1:
1.) Capacity: the maximum capacity allowed in outdoor spaces will be 100% of what they have established, and 75% in indoor spaces.

2.) Groups of people: the maximum number of people allowed to meet in public or private, indoors or outdoors is 12, except in the case of cohabitants. Cohabiting is understood to be those people who live in the same house.

3.) Closing times: in those establishments and activities that, prior to the pandemic, did not have a fixed closing time, or had a later one, the maximum authorized closing time will be 3:00am.

4.) Guided tours: A maximum of 50 people may participate in tour guide and active tourism activities.

5.) The activity of nightlife establishments is allowed: discotheques, cocktail bars and karaoke bars are allowed to open in the same way as bars and restaurants with table service, and dancing is not allowed.

6.) Nightlife client data: The persons responsible for nightlife establishments and activities will collect information from clients for the traceability of contagions and contacts, in accordance with the provisions of article 5.2 of this Decree-Law. The information collected will include name and surname, ID number, telephone number and date and time they were at the venue.
This record will be kept at the disposal of the health authorities for a month. The information processing will be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the personal data protection regulations, with the sole purpose of monitoring, surveillance and epidemiological control of COVID-19.

7.) Parties, festivals and other popular events may not be held.

8.) The sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages, individually or in groups, on public roads, parks or outdoor recreation areas will not be allowed.

9.) Sports: The practice of federated and non-federated sports in the open air is allowed, ensuring the maintenance of the interpersonal distance of 2 metres whenever possible, with mandatory use of the mask. The number of participants will be limited by the specific regulations of each sport. The public capacity will be 100% in open spaces and 75% in closed spaces.

LEVEL 3:
1.) Capacity: 75% outdoors and 40% indoors.

2.) Groups of people: the maximum number of people allowed to meet is 6 in public or private, indoors or outdoors.

3.) Closing times: 1:00am.

4.) Guided tours: A maximum of 20 people may participate in tour guide and active tourism activities.

5.) The activity of nightlife establishments is allowed: discotheques, cocktail bars and karaoke bars are allowed to open in the same way as bars and restaurants with table service, and dancing is not allowed.

6.) Nightlife client data: Data must be collected the same as in Level 1.

7.) Parties, festivals and other popular events may not be held.

8.) Shows: Shows with choirs, bands, orchestras or other musical groups in which the continuous use of the mask and the interpersonal safety distance of two metres cannot be maintained permanently, are not allowed indoors in closed spaces.

9.) The sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages, individually or in groups, on public roads, parks or outdoor recreation areas will not be allowed.

10.) Sports: The public capacity will be 50% in open spaces and 33% in gyms and sports centres. The Practice of professional, federated and non-federated physical and sports activity and in the celebration of sporting events the attendance of the public is not allowed.

11.) Cultural activity: Cultural, artistic venues and establishments such as theatres, cinemas, music auditoriums, cultural centres, libraries, concert halls, exhibition halls, conference centres, the maximum capacity allowed is 55% of the establishment. Eating or drinking is not allowed during shows or sessions.

12.) Indoor spas/jacuzzis and saunas will be closed.

13.) Campsites and overnight camps will remain closed.

These regulations are in force as of now as they have been printed officially in the BOC. If you would like a copy of the document and the full regulations for the alert Levels, you can see one here: http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/boc/2021/183/001.html