Yesterday, the Balearic Government requested approval from the Balearic Islands’ High Court of Justice (TSJB) to require the covid passport for entry to any nightlife establishment, as well as restaurants and celebration spaces with a capacity greater than 50 people in their interior space. If the regulation is approved by the courts, it will take effect this Saturday, and it is expected to expand the requirement for this certificate to other activities if the level of alert increases in response to an increase in virus incidence.
The Government already received approval from the TSJB in October to apply this measure to nursing homes and nightclubs, but now it would also apply to other types of nightclubs, such as cafes and pubs that host concerts. Similarly, restaurants and celebration spaces with a capacity greater than 50 people, such as municipal tents used for Christmas celebrations, would be included.
Covid passport: restaurants and stand-up drinking establishments
Restaurants are also included in this category if they are located in senior citizen centers, sports centers, or playgrounds and have a capacity of more than 50 diners. Terraces, on the other hand, are exempt, unless they are enclosed on three sides, at which point they are considered an interior. Similarly, bars and cafes are exempt from the requirement to obtain a covid passport from their customers, both now and in future instances covered by the Government’s rules.
As the only relaxation of the measures, customers of nightclubs and other entertainment establishments will be permitted to take their drinks standing beginning Saturday, whereas the rule previously required that they remain seated to consume. The Govern requires continued use of the mask in order to dance.
Levels of alertness for the covid passport
At the moment, the four islands are on level 1 health alert, and it is expected that both Pitiusas and Mallorca will remain on this level until Friday, when each island’s health situation will be reviewed. Menorca, on the other hand, will be demoted to level 2 due to the highest cumulative incidence of 14 days of covid [440 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 187 on Ibiza and 33 on Formentera].
To begin, if the TSJB approves, the Government’s new measures will be in effect until January 24, while the level of health alert for each island, which determines which areas require the certificate of compliance, is reviewed every two weeks. This requirement will be removed once the level 0 alert is activated.
On the other hand, if an island is elevated to level 2, the health document will be required for access to shelters and tourist accommodations that require room sharing. Cinemas and gyms would be impacted only if an island’s health situation reaches level 3. This requirement does not apply to sports halls, but to weight training rooms and areas where supervised classes are held.
For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.