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BARCELONA (Reuters) – Dozens of partygoers danced on a popular beach near central Barcelona on Friday, some without wearing masks or not observing social distancing in defiance of COVID-19 restrictions, police said on Saturday.
The impromptu party took place on Barceloneta beach and police said they had informed revelers that they were breaking health regulations.
“Barcelona is the perfect place to party, to drink, but this is a big problem, the police are preventing people from having fun,” said a British reveler who only gave his first name Liam, 32, and who he wore a mask. he told Reuters.
Gatherings of more than six people in public areas are prohibited in the Catalonia region of northeastern Spain, and violators can face fines of 300 to 600 euros (350 to 700 dollars), police said.
“Our agents warn people where there are large groups of people who are violating the restrictions and sometimes if they do not wear masks or walk away they can face fines,” said a spokesman for the Catalan regional police. He did not say whether anyone had been fined in this case.
Miquel Samper, the Catalan region’s interior minister, told RAC1 radio on Saturday that people should wear masks if mingling with other people on the beach, but they don’t need to if they are sunbathing or swimming in the sea, a guide that differs from national law. .
Catalonia is one of several Spanish regions defying a law introduced Wednesday that requires people to wear masks outdoors regardless of whether the 1.5-meter safety distance is being respected.
After mounting criticism, the Spanish government has said the mask law will be revised, but has not said when any revision will take place.
($ 1 = 0.8502 euros)
(Reporting by Graham Keeley; Edited by David Holmes)
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