Laurence Dollimore
MADRID has announced a ‘night time curfew’ from midnight to 6am from this Saturday in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus.
It means it is forbidden to meet with others between these hours, whether it be indoors or outdoors.
It is not forbidden to be on the street during the ‘curfew’, as long as you are alone or with a cohabitant.
Bars and restaurants will have to close at midnight and will not be able to welcome customers after 11pm.
Eating or drinking at the bar is forbidden and indoor and outdoor capacities must not exceed 50% and 75% respectively.
Family and social gatherings will be prohibited from midnight to 6am except for cohabitants, to care for the elderly and dependents or for work reasons.
At all other hours the people can only meet or gather in groups of six.
The Metro will continue running until 1:30am for trips considered essential.
The new measures, which will also include reduced hours for shops and venues, will come into effect once the state of alarm ends on Saturday at 4:47pm.
The residents of the nine municipalities affected by the state of alarm will, from that hour, be able to move freely among each other.
Meanwhile, specific additional restrictions will come into force on Monday in 32 areas of nine districts of the capital and 11 other municipalities in the region.
Residents and non-residents may not leave their municipality except for justifiable reasons – such as going to work, studying or a medical consultation – for at least 14 days.
The measures will take force at 00:00 on Monday and will affect 671,259 people, 10% of the region’s population.
They will affect health zones in the districts of Chamartin, Chamberi, Villaverde, Puente de Vallecas, Ciudad Lineal, Moratalaz, Latina, Fuencarral-El Pardo and Tetuan.
There will also be mobility restrictions in the municipalities of Collado Villalba, Guadarrama, Majadahonda, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Parla, Colmenar Viejo, Morata de Tajuña, Torrejon de Ardoz, Villarejo de Salvanes, Colmenar de Oreja and El Boalo.
In addition, throughout the Community of Madrid, hotels, restaurants, cinemas, theaters, auditoriums, circuses, multipurpose rooms, public shows, recreational activities, university residences, halls of residence, sports facilities, parks, gardens, and gaming and betting venues must close by midnight and may not open before six in the morning. The same goes for commercial and retail establishments.
Shopping centers where there are cinemas, restaurants or entertainment may close at midnight.
Exceptions will be made for pharmacies, medical services, vets, gas stations and businesses that provide essential services.
