Balearic Government spokesperson Iago Negueruela has confirmed that Ibiza will be allowed to reopen the terraces of its bars and restaurants from next week.
The news follows all five of the island municipalities achieving infection rates below the 200 per 100,000, and on course to maintain them for two weeks. Earlier statements had said that there was no possibility of any announcement of easing regulations until Ibiza had achieved the sub-200 level and maintained it for a full 2 week period, which meant an announcement on the 12th with the expectation of easing regulations on the 15th. Negueruela made no mention of the easing relying on completion of the two week period.
The spokesperson did however make a public appeal for ‘citizens to approach the easing with “responsibility and in the most orderly way possible”.
Ibiza will be following in the footsteps of Mallorca who started the same de-escalation process last week. There has been no data as yet published to demonstrate how the infection rates in Mallorca have changed since the opening of their hospitality sector terraces.
It is expected that Mallorca will open the interior of its bars and restaurants on the same day Ibiza opens its terraces.
In an announcement with repeated mentions of the need for caution, the spokesperson said that though the health situation is all moving in the right direction, there would be no rush to ease regulations further in large part due to concern over the ‘British strain’.
There was no mention of how any changes of regulations may affect other activities and interaction on the current prohibited list.
Recent Evolution
How the Covid-19 numbers have presented over the last weeks – note that numbers will have changed since this report published Thursday March 4th –
Under 200. Ibiza Set for Easing Announcement on March 12th, but San Antonio Hovers on the Brink
All of Ibiza’s 5 Municipalities have an Incidence Rate Under the Important 200 Threshold.
This threshold of under 200 cases per 100,000 residents is set by the health ministry who have been firm in their resolve that no easing of restrictions will be made until any municipality has achieved the 200 level, and maintained it for 15 days.
This means that any changes to Ibiza’s restrictions would be made in the ministry announcements of 12th march, with a likely effective date of 15th March.
It is important that we all understand there are no guarantees, and it is essential we maintain the current level of improvement, but providing this can be achieved there will be a huge expectation of easing in the current regulations.
Ministry Announcement
The fortnightly incidence of the coronavirus has fallen below 200 in allof Ibiza’s municipalities. This came from the latest data posted yesterday by the Balearic Ministry of Health.
Ibiza Town and Sant Antoni, the towns with the highest COVID indicators , had been hovering just above the 200 mark for a few days.
Ibiza Town’s rate is 181 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, even lower than that of Sant Antoni, which is 194.
In addition, while the incidence in Ibiza Town continues to drop, according to the seven-day index, which is 50 cases, that of Sant Antoni indicate a small rise. Now standing at 99 per 7 days, it is perilously close to the 200 per 14 days threshold that counts.
In Sant Josep, the incidence rates are 98.5 for 14 days and a very promising 25.5 for 7 days.
Santa Eulària is showing similarly positive trends. There are 84 cases when counting 14 days and 21 to seven.
In Sant Joan the incidence is currently zero cases for both 14 and 7 days, an achievement shared by 20 other municipalities around the Balearics.
Mallorca’s Santa Eugènia is the municipality of the Balearic Islands with the highest incidence at a relatively alarming 448 cases per one hundred thousand inhabitants, according to the daily tables of the Government. In second place would be Sant Antoni, followed by another Mallorca’s Campanet with 189 and the Ibiza Town in fourth.
As It Stands
The current rules, until whatever changes are confirmed for the 15th. There is nothing new beyond this point, the rules are re-published via the Diario de Ibiza for reference.
Perimeter closure
The island of Ibiza, like Formentera – which is why it is not allowed to travel between them if it is not for just cause – is closed on the perimeter , which means that no one can enter or leave except for just cause.
The exceptions to be able to leave or come to the Pitiusas are the following:
- Assistance to health centres, services and establishments.
- Compliance with labor, professional or business obligations.
- Assistance to teaching and educational centres, including nursery schools.
- Return to the place of habitual or family residence.
- Assistance and care for the elderly, minors, dependents, people with disabilities or especially vulnerable people.
- Travel to financial and insurance entities.
- Required or urgent actions before public, judicial or notarial bodies.
- Renewals of permits and official documentation, as well as other administrative procedures that cannot be postponed.
- To take exams or official tests that cannot be postponed.
- Due to force majeure or a situation of need.
- Any other activity of a similar nature.
Curfew
The limitation of freedom of movement of people at night (curfew) is between the 22 and 6 o’clock . Consequently, all movements and circulation on public roads are prohibited during these hours. Displacements of an essential nature, duly justified (going to a health center, pharmacy, veterinarian …) are excluded from this prohibition.
Family and social gatherings
Only family and social gatherings of people who belong to the same nucleus of coexistence are allowed , both in public and private spaces and both indoors and outdoors.
The following situations are excepted from the limitations established in the previous section: people who live alone, who can form part of a single extended coexistence unit; meeting of minors with parents in case they live in different addresses; meeting of people with a marital or partner relationship who live in different domiciles or care; care or accompaniment to minors, elderly or dependents, disabled or especially vulnerable. Labour, institutional, transportation and educational centre activities are not included in the limitation provided for in this section.
Catering (bars and restaurants)
Bars, cafes and other catering establishments must be closed to the public .
They can only carry out the activity of sale of food and drink to take away (until 22 hours) or at home (until 24 hours). Your activity must conclude within 24 hours at the latest.
The following exceptions are established : hotel restaurants and other tourist accommodation, which may remain open as long as it is for the exclusive use of their lodged clients; restoration services integrated into health, social and social centres and services and school or social canteen services and other restoration services of training centres not included in the preceding paragraph and restoration services of work centres intended for the staff who work there.
Gyms
Gyms must also remain closed.
Shops
All commercial establishments must conclude their activity at 8:00 p.m. , except gas stations and establishments dedicated to essential commerce (food, beverages, hygiene products and other essential products), as well as pharmacies, orthopaedics, opticians, tobacconists, kiosks and establishments dedicated to the sale of press and stationery, establishments dedicated to telecommunications products, hairdressing and aesthetic services, veterinary, gardening and living plant centres and establishments for the sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles.
All commercial establishments have to reduce by 50% the capacity of the car parks or spaces intended for the parking of customers’ vehicles. Retail trade establishments of less than 400 square meters, except for gas stations and establishments dedicated to essential trade (food, beverages, hygiene products and other essential products), as well as pharmacies, orthopaedics, opticians, tobacconists, kiosks and establishments dedicated to the sale of press and stationery, establishments dedicated to telecommunications products, hairdressing and aesthetic services, veterinary, gardening and living plant centres, and establishments for the sale, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles with an exhibition area and sale to the public. Closed on Sundays and holidays .Businesses of more than 400 square meters, except those of first necessity, such as food sales, must remain closed.
Cultural and recreational activity
Cultural activities with the presence of the public are prohibited with the exception of theatres, auditoriums, cinemas and tent circuses, which have to reduce public access to 30% of the total authorized capacity . In any case, the consumption of food and beverages inside is prohibited. The activity of spas, jacuzzis and similar service establishments or centres, carried out in closed spaces, whether it is establishments exclusively dedicated to this activity or facilities of this kind located in hotel establishments, sports facilities or of any other nature, is prohibited. .
Popular celebrations
The celebration of popular festivals is prohibited , whether they are of initiative and public or private promotion, and also all celebrations of a cultural, recreational or sporting nature derived or that are part of the programming of these festivities.
Extracurricular activities
Extracurricular activities are allowed . In addition, at level 4, in academies and training centers and driving schools, only groups of a maximum of six people and with a maximum of 50% capacity are allowed, with the exception of professional aptitude courses for drivers, with a maximum of 14 people .
Sport activity
Public attendance at sporting events of any category is prohibited .
The opening to the public of covered sports facilities where the curriculum of regulated official education is not developed is suspended. The following are excepted from this obligation:
The facilities in which organized federated sports activities are carried out, which can remain open only while the training of federated athletes is carried out, but access to athletes and their coaches is limited. This activity is governed by the regulations and specific protocols that are applicable.
The facilities in which an individualized directed activity is carried out, that is, with the presence of a single coach who directs a single athlete within the sports space.
In general terms, in this section it must be taken into account that contact sport (such as karate) is prohibited, although training in these practices is allowed as long as it is individual or the safety distance is maintained.
Training in disciplines that do not include contact (athletics, cycling, rhythmic gymnastics, tennis, motorcycling …) is allowed.
National competitions are held for the teams in Ibiza that are within this circuit (Second B, Third football, volleyball, handball …)
