"Now it's time to stay home." This is the message, the same as in March during the confinement, sent yesterday by the Balearic Minister of Health, Patricia Gómez, and the Mayor of Ibiza, Rafa Ruiz, to the residents of the island's capital. The substantial difference is that now it is not an obligation, but "a recommendation".
The Regional Minister of Health, Patricia Gómez, announced yesterday in Ibiza that 10 pm tomorrow the restrictions in Ibiza town will extend for two more weeks, which will now affect the whole municipality (around 50,000 inhabitants). However, tomorrow it is expected to lift restrictions in Sant Antoni from 10 pm on Saturday, as the incidence of contagion is "more favourable" after falling from 323 positives per 100,000 inhabitants to 212.
Gómez justified that restrictions applied since 18th September in Vila "have not been sufficient" to control the infection curve. On Tuesday the incidence of infections was, at 620 (on 18th September it was even higher, at 662), when in the whole Balearic Islands is a third with 190. On the island, the figure is 331, according to the data, which varies daily, from Tuesday.
For this reason, the Balearic Regional Ministry of Health has decided to extend the restrictions to the whole municipality of Vila, but now does not prevent the population from moving around. Although it recommends limiting travel to what is "strictly essential", both the departures of residents and the entrances to the city of those who live in other towns. "There is no perimeter that closes the city. There are no restrictions on mobility," said Gómez.
Now, for example, non-residents can enter Vila to go shopping at any establishment or to Mercat Nou, but Salud does not recommend it. Gómez explained that now mobility is not limited throughout the municipality due to "the difficulty of controlling access", because of its island's "capital" status and because it is necessary to "find a balance between the epidemiological situation and the economy and try to that the measures affect the population as little as possible ”.
No legal protection from the state of alarm
The Mayor acknowledged that, without a state of alarm, population movements cannot be prevented. Although during the last two weeks, the Government had limited residents movements of the Eixample, legally it could not formally prevent them without the protection of the state of alarm. The local police have not imposed any sanctions on this issue.
Tomorrow night, no commercial establishment in the municipality (especially bars and restaurants) may close after 10 pm. There can only be five people per table, and consumption at the counter is prohibited.
Restaurants and bars capacity reduces to 25% indoors, as well as in churches, gyms and sports centres. On the terraces of catering businesses and other establishments capacity goes up to 50%. All establishments must install signs at the entrance with information on the allowed capacity. Businesses must set up priority opening hours for people over 65.
Meetings with more than five people (unless they all reside in the same house) are also prohibited, both at home and on the street. This limitation also affects the celebration of weddings and sports. Meetings at work and public transport are outside this restriction. Groups of less than five people that meet on public roads may not eat or drink. In awake may not exceed 15 people. All parks and gardens in the municipality will be closed.
