BARCELONA (Reuters) – Young Catalans should stop partying to help stem an increase in new cases of coronavirus, or local authorities may have to re-impose severe restrictions, the leader of the northeastern Spanish region said on Monday.
FILE PHOTO: Tourists and locals gather at an observation post, with a view of the city of Barcelona in the background, after regional authorities across Spain introduced restrictions on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) aimed at eliminate an increase in infections, in Barcelona, Spain July 23, 2020. REUTERS / Nacho Doce
Catalonia is at the heart of a spike in coronavirus cases in Spain that began after a national blockade was closed last month. France has asked its citizens not to travel there, and Germany and Belgium have done the same for the region.
“If we continue with the current rhythm of social life, the only thing we will achieve is to worsen the situation,” said the regional leader of Catalonia, Quim Torra, after the young people returned to the tradition of “large bottles”, where they meet outside at night for drink and party.
“Making big bottles shows a lack of solidarity,” Torra said at a press conference, adding that young people could transmit the coronavirus to more fragile people.
However, with his sights set on foreign visitors, Torra also said that Catalonia remained “ready to receive all tourists” and that it had solid health measures.
The Spanish government has said that youth are among the groups with the highest number of new infections in this post-closure COVID-19 wave.
On Friday, Torra circulated a video on social networks in which young people themselves warn about the dangers. “Coronavirus attacks at night and especially the younger population,” said one teenager in the video.
Torra’s regional government ordered all nightclubs to close on Friday, while bars and restaurants were ordered to close at midnight in dozens of municipalities, including Barcelona. It has also recommended that about four million people stay home and avoid all but essential trips.
In many parts of Catalonia, which in 2019 was the most visited Spanish region by foreign tourists, the number of infections is now similar to the situation before Spain declared a national closure in March, Torra said.
It may be necessary to impose more restrictive measures if the situation does not improve in 10 days, he said, without giving further details.
“We are facing the 10 most decisive days of the summer. We are in a critical situation. It is in our hands to prevent the situation from escalating, “said Torra.
Barcelona’s historic Sagrada Familia basilica could face a fine, he added, after a mass was held over the weekend that exceeded the allowed number of attendees.
Reports by Joan Faus, Ingrid Melander and Gareth Jones Edition
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