Balearics Closing Beaches From Tomorow Night

The government of the Balearic Islands in Spain which includes Ibiza and Mallorca are to ban gatherings of more than 10 people, make masks compulsory and close all beaches at night from Friday 28th August.

The tough new measures which include a ban on smoking in public places as well a response to an increase in the number of people testing positive for COVID-19, with most of the cases involving young people who show no symptoms.

Likewise, bars, cafes and restaurants will be forced to reduce their capacity to 50 percent and brothels will be forced to close completely.

Nightlife is closed for 15 days and sports are limited.

The rule strengthening the usage of masks will make them mandatory not just in stores and bars but also on the street.

The rules come a few days after the President of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, announced that the decision to decree a new state of emergency and a second lockdown will depend exclusively on each of the 17 Autonomous Communities that the country has, including the Balearic Islands.

The announcement by the Central Government essentially left responsibility for tackling it with the Autonomous Communities.

President Sanchez also announced that he was making 2,000 soldiers available to the Communities to track infections.

Some in the Autonomous Communities have raised concerns that there do not appear to be plans beyond restricting the freedom of citizens every time they feel pressured by the increase in positive cases.

Francina Armengol, President of the Community of the Balearic Islands, said: “We have a problem of relaxation in the population, especially in family meetings and with friends.”

The Community of the Balearic Islands, with a population of 1,2 million inhabitants currently has (as of Wednesday 26th August) almost 2,230 positives, 279 hospitalized patients and 39 of them in the intensive care unit (ICU).

The Balearic Islands have a capacity of up to 300 ICU patients and 1,400 hospital admissions, and Armengol considers in an official statement obtained by Newsflash that: “We have to face this second outbreak with rigor and responsibility and take the appropriate measures at the appropriate times.”

Spain has increased the testing of citizens and at present, almost 48,000 PCR tests are being carried out every day, which means almost 124 tests per 1,000 inhabitants.

In the Balearic Islands, 193,073 PCR tests have been carried out so far, an average of almost 162 tests per 1,000 inhabitants.

Armengol has also announced that for the moment she will not ask the Central Government to apply a state of emergency in her region, nor will she request the presence of the military, however, she announced that selective confinements are not ruled out.