Barcelona’s indoor nightlife closes this weekend amid fresh COVID-19 fears

The Catalan government has had a tough decision to make this week – amid new coronavirus concerns. The change comes following other Spanish regions’ decision to increase restrictions due to growing cases across the country. 

From today (Fri 9th July 2021), indoor nightclubs will not be able to open. Outdoor events are still allowed to happen, but a strict 3 AM curfew is now in place.

Speaking earlier this week, Catalan government spokesperson Patrícia Plaja said: “We must take measures & we need to stop social interaction”.

“There is a general relaxation & it seems that in certain areas, the pandemic has ended. Relaxation increases in spaces with many people,” she added. 

While almost half of Spain’s 47 million citizens have now been double vaccinated, only one in ten 20-29-year-olds have received both doses.

In March, 5,000 people attended a test event at Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi as part of a coronavirus study; In June, Catalonian nightlife returned at 50% of its capacity. 

Since then, positive COVID-19 cases have skyrocketed amongst the city’s young. The new measures – in place for the next 15 days – aim to reduce pressure on the region’s hospitals and primary care centres.

Speaking on the new restrictions, Joaquim Boadas, the president of Fecasarm, the Catalonian nightlife sector’s employer’s association, said: “We are outraged. They had the opportunity to use the sector as a strategic ally if they were tested to enter. This meant a massive screening among young people – mostly unvaccinated. Instead, they have opted for the wrong decision, which is to sacrifice the legal sector, which will lead to an increase in the practice of illegal nightlife and an increase in infections because in these spaces there are no health or safety measures.”

Not a great time for Spanish nightlife as a whole at present, with some of the rest of the world now beginning to open up again, it seems the Spanish are feeling the same pain many of their neighbours have had to endure for the last few months.