Confirmed: reduction of group sizes at tables and in bars and restaurants

Yesterday the Governing Council decided to establish new guidelines for the hospitality sector in the Canary Islands with Easter around the corner. The President of the Canary Islands Government, Ángel Víctor Torres, reiterated his concern about the effect it may cause on the evolution of infections.

Torres said: ”Whenever there are celebrations or holidays, such as Christmas or Carnival, we expect there to be upturns in the Canary Islands data, therefore, we have to activate extra protocols” adding that the data will be reviewed again on Thursday.

Among these security measures to avoid an increase in cases, the hospitality industry once again undergoes changes inside the premises. Now, the interior of the establishments in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, both on Level 2, will only be allowed to have a maximum of four people per table instead of six as before.

In addition, in Fuerteventura, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma, who are all on Level 1, the maximum number of people per table inside goes from ten to six. The group of clients sat at the bar is limited to two in Tenerife and Gran Canaria, and four in those that are at Level 1.

On the other hand, the capacity allowed in Tenerife and Gran Canaria may not exceed 75% on terraces and 50% indoors, wheras on Level 1 they are allowed up to a maximum of 75% indoors.

Closing times are affected too with the introduction of a curfew at Level 1, so they have to be closed by midnight, and it stays at 11pm for Level 2, i.e. Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

Lanzarote, the island still with the most restrictions, has just come out of Level 4 into Level 3, but they still have the interior of all hospitality establishments closed to the public, with a maximum capacity of 50% on terraces, whose tables are limited to four people.