LATEST: The updated Covid-19 rules and restrictions for regions across Spain

March 25, 2021

Regional authorities have set their own restrictions for each of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities and two city enclaves in North Africa.

So far, the government of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has resisted following the lead of other European nations which have reimposed lockdowns, arguing its highly-localised restrictions are enough.

Under Spain’s decentralised political system, its 17 regions are responsible for handling the pandemic, although the central government could intervene to declare a national lockdown as it did in March.

The Health Ministry has published an interactive map that allows you to check the restrictions currently in place in each of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions.

Here’s a breakdown of all the restrictions in place in each of the regions of Spain.

Catalonia

Health authorities in the northeastern region announced a further loosening of restrictions from Monday, March 15th. This means that travel between comarcas is now allowed.

  • Travel outside comarca allowed for certain reasons, but only with the people you live with. 
  • Restaurants, cafes and bars can open continuously until 5pm.
  • Shopping malls were allowed to reopen on March 1st. 
  • Non-essential shops must close at weekends. 
  • Hospitality venues inside shopping centres will remain closed.
  • There is a curfew between 10pm and 6am. 
  • Social groups limited to 6 people from two households.

Madrid

All the borders of the individual health zones are also now open, with the exception of one –  Morata de Tajuña. Madrid also finally announced that it would close its regional borders for Easter between March 26th and April 9th. The region also announced that three health zones and two municipalities would also have to close their borders from Monday March 22nd for the next 14 days. These include the Valle de la Oliva, Nuñez Morgado (near Chamartín, in the capital), Virgen de Begoña (also in the capital) and Navacerrada. 

  • An 11pm curfew is in place and all bars, restaurants can stay open until the same time, accepting their last customers at 10pm. 
  • The number of people allowed to meet around a table on the terraza of a restaurant, cafe or bar is capped at six people, with four people inside.
  • There is still a limit on the number of people allowed inside the restaurant – now capped at 50 percent.
  • Authorities still insist that households can’t mix with each other in private homes.

Valencia

The Valencian Government announced a slight loosening of the restrictions on March 1st.

The perimetral lockdown on weekends of cities with populations of over 50,000 on weekends and public holidays from 3pm on Fridays to 6am on Mondays has been abolished. People will be allowed to travel freely throughout the community during Easter week. 

  • The closures of the borders around the Valencian Community remains in place.  
  • The interior of bars and restaurants can open at a 30 percent capacity and on the terrace, tables must be at least 1.5 metres away from each other. They must close at 6pm, but takeaway is allowed until 10pm. 
  • Shops and other commercial businesses must close by 8pm and can operate at 50 percent capacity. 
  • Indoor sports centres, gyms and pools are allowed to operate at 30 percent capacity. Outdoor sports are allowed, but masks must be worn. 
  • Cinemas, theatres and other cultural venues can operate at a 50 percent capacity. 
  • Social visits banned in private homes unless it is to visit vulnerable adults or minors.
  • Up to four people can meet in public. 
  • Curfew from 10pm-6am. 

Photo: AFP

From February 1st, it is also compulsory to wear a face mask for walks on city beaches, swimming pools and natural spaces as well as to do sport outdoors in urban areas.

READ MORE:  Valencia closes bars and restaurants and wants curfew set at 8pm

Aragón

  • The border of Aragón will remain closed throughout the Easter period. 
  • Non-essential activities are allowed to continue until 10pm, including bars and restaurants. 
  • Full capacity allowed on restaurant terraces with a maximum of six per table and 30 percent capacity allowed inside. There is also a ban on smoking on the terraces and eating or drinking at the bar.
  • The curfew from 11pm-6am remains in place.
  • Services, shops and shopping malls are only allowed to open at 25 percent capacity, but shops that sell food can open to 50 percent capacity. 
  • Cultural venues can open at 50 percent capacity. 
  • Up to six people can meet in public and four in private. 

La Rioja

La Rioja relaxed some of its restrictions on Monday, March 22nd. The current restrictions in place are:

  • Borders between municipalities are open but the regional border is closed.
  • The nightly curfew will change from 11pm-5am. 
  • Socialising must be restricted to those within the same household or between a social bubble, if someone lives alone.
  • Restaurants are allowed to open with a limited capacity of 30 percent inside and 75 percent on the outdoor terraces and can stay open until 11pm. A maximum of six people will be allowed to sit together.
  • Cultural and sporting activities can operate at 50 percent capacity.
  • Shops and other commercial activities can operate at 1/3 capacity. Non-essential shops can stay open until 8pm.

Extremadura

Authorities in Extremadura announced that the current restrictions would stay in place throughout the Easter period until April 9th. These are: 

  • Curfew from 11pm – 6am
  • Bars and restaurants can open from 6am-11pm. Four can side inside and up to six can sit outside. 
  • Shopping centres can open from 10am-6pm Mondays to Fridays and from 10am-2pm on Saturdays with a limited capacity of 40 percent. 
  • Cultural activities can also reopen at a capacity of 50 percent. 

Castilla y León

The Junta of Castilla y León announced that the current restrictions would remain in place until at least April 5th. 

These are:

  • Houses of worship can now operate at a capacity of 1/3. 
  • Curfew from 10pm-7am.
  • A maximum number of four people are allowed to meet in private with the recommendation that groups are limited to the same household.
  • Restaurants and bars can operate indoor and outdoor service, but must close by 9.30pm.  Smoking is banned on the terrazas. 
  • Shopping malls and sports centres were allowed to open from March 8th.  
  • A limited number of people will be allowed inside hospitality venues without drinking at the bar. 
  • Free movement is allowed between provinces during Semana Santa. 

Balearic Islands

The border of the Balearic Islands is open, but those from autonomous communities with a cumulative incidence rate of over 150 cases per 100,000 must present a negative Covid test. 

Mallorca and Formentera are at level 2, Menorca is at level 1 and Ibiza is at level 3. 

All islands:

  • A curfew is in place between 10pm and 6am across all the islands.
  • Outdoors, groups are limited to a maximum of six people, who must be from no more than two homes.

Level 1:

  • Shops can open to full capacity, while commercial centres and malls can open to 75 percent capacity. 
  • Gyms can operate at a 50 percent capacity. 
  • Up to 15 people can play sports together outside, providing there’s no contact. 
  • The interior of bars and restaurants can operate at 50 percent with four people at each table, and the terraza can operate at full capacity with a maximum of six per table. 

Level 2:

  • Bar and restaurant interiors can operate at a 30 percent capacity and must close at 5pm. Terraces can operate at a 75 percent capacity and can stay open until 10pm. Four are allowed at a table inside and six outside. 
  • Shops can operate at a 50 percent capacity and stay open until 10pm. 
  • Social meetings are capped at six people from a maximum of two households. 

Level 3:

  • Dining is allowed on the terraces of bars and restaurants only at a capacity of 50 percent. Four people from two households are allowed to sit together and establishments must close by 6pm.
  •  Shops can open to a 50 percent capacity and most close at 8pm. 
  • Social meetings are capped at six people from a maximum of two households. 

Level 4: 

  • Bars and restaurants open for takeaway only until 10pm or for home delivery until midnight. 
  • All large non-essential shops are closed.
  • Other shops can open at a 50 percent capacity until 8pm. 
  • You can only socialise with one other person whom you live with. 

For all the rules visit Balearic Islands’ government information page HERE.

Murcia 

Current restrictions in Murcia include:

  • Bars and restaurants can operate their interiors at a 30 percent capacity, however terraces can operate at 100 percent.
  • Two people from different households can sit together inside and four people can sit outside. 
  • Meetings inside private homes is not allowed. 
  • Non-essential services and activities must stop by 8pm. 
  • The perimeters of its municipalities remain open except those on extreme alert. 
  • A curfew remains in place from 10pm. 

Restrictions may vary slightly depending on where you live and level of alert your area is in. 

Canary Islands

The Canary Islands operates a traffic light system with each island on an alert level depending on the infection rate and with different rules in place for each level.

As things currently stand, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro are at are at Level 1. Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura are at Level 3. Lanzarote is currently at Level 2. 

The Canary Islands’ infection rate continues to be the lowest of all regions in Spain. 

Level 1:

  • No limits on entering or leaving the island.
  • Curfew between midnight and 6am.
  • Social gatherings limited to six people maximum
  • Restaurants/bars close at midnight
  • Sports in groups of up to six, markets only if open air, public transport functioning normally but all cultural events suspended.

Level 2:

  • No limits on entering or leaving the island
  • Curfew between 11pm and 6am.
  • Social gatherings limited to four people maximum
  • Restaurants/bars close at 11.
  • Sports in groups of up to four, public transport functioning with 50 capacity but all markets and cultural events suspended.

Level 3:

  • Entering and leaving the island is restricted to those with justified cause (work, study, legal or administrative appointments, to care for dependents or to return to habitual or familial home). Travel between islands is only allowed for these essential reasons over Easter. 
  • Curfew between 10pm and 6am.
  • Social gatherings limited to four people maximum
  • Restaurants/bars close at 10. Only outside table service with 50 percent capacity
  • Sports centres closed inside and outside only allow groups of up to four, public transport functioning with 50 percent capacity but all markets and cultural events suspended.

For a detailed breakdown of all the rules, see the government bulletin HERE.

All those arriving on the islands from outside Spain from destinations classified as high risk must show a negative test  (PCR, TMA or LAMP) before boarding. For those coming from “safe destinations” or mainland Spain an antigen test is valid and must be shown at your accommodation. 

Castilla- La Mancha

Castilla- La Mancha announced new restrictions in place over the Easter period from March 26th to April 9th. This includes the shortening of the curfew from midnight to 11pm. 

Current restrictions include:

  • Bar and restaurants can stay open until 11pm. Interiors can operate at one-third capacity with four per table and terrazas at 50 percent capacity. 
  • Bar service is not allowed and those who enter must show a GR code to be served. 
  • The number of people allowed to meet is limited to six with the recommendation that groups are limited to a maximum of two households.
  • Shops open at 50 percent of capacity.
  • The borders of the region remain closed.

Andalusia

Municipal confinement imposed on every city with a population of over 100,000 in addition towns that see infection rates rise above 500 cases per 100,000 and the closure of all non-essential businesses in municipalities where the rate tops 1,000 cases per 100,000 people.

Restrictions also vary slightly between which alert level each municipality in each province is in. Most are currently at level 2. 

New measures came into force on March 19th. For most of Andalusia these are: 

  • Travel in and out of the region is not allowed, unless with justified cause.
  • Movement is not allowed between its eight provinces and will remain in place throughout Easter.
  • The curfew is from 11pm-7am, but may vary slightly depending on your province. 
  • Shops can open until 10.30pm. 
  • Bars, restaurants can open until 9.30pm. 
  • Non-essential activities must also stop by 9.30pm. 
  • Social gatherings are limited to four people in both private and public spaces, but six will be allowed outdoors for Semana Santa. 

Full details and the status of each municipality can be found at the interactive map published by the regional government can be found in link HERE

Asturias

The Asturian authorities continue to ask their population to undergo voluntary home confinement and limit movement as much as possible. The current restrictions will stay the same over the Easter period. 

  • Travel in and out of the region is not allowed except for justified reasons.
  • Restaurant terraces are open but the interiors remain closed. Take-away service can be offered.
  • Shops bigger than 300 metres squared are reduced to 20 percent capacity. 
  • Indoor sports have been suspended and gyms are closed.
  • Curfew between 10pm and 6am. 
  • Non-essential activity to stop by 8pm. 
  • Groups are limited to four people.

Cantabria

Cantabria relaxed some of its rules at the beginning of March and will keep its current restrictions in place over Semana Santa. 

  • Bars and restaurants can open with a capacity of one-third, but they must be well ventilated and close at 9.30pm
  • Groups of people are limited to six. 
  • Cultural venues have a capacity of 50 percent. 
  • Regional borders closed meaning travel in and out of the territory is not allowed except for justified reasons. 
  • Sports in closed spaces must be done with a mask on. 
  • The curfew remains at 10pm until 6am. 

Galicia

A relaxation of restrictions came into force on March 18th. The autonomous community has split its municipalities up into different levels depending on the number of cases.

Level 1: Extreme risk restrictions are:

  • Closure of all bars and restaurants 
  • Meetings with co-habitants only 
  • Perimitral border closure

Level 2: 

  • Meetings of up to four people allowed, not only with co-habitants 
  • Bars and restaurants can open their terrazas to a 50 percent capacity are can open until 6pm
  • Gyms, sports centres and swimming pools can reopen, but you can only play with four other people while wearing masks

Level 3: 

  • Bars and restaurants can stay open until 6pm. Interior capacity at 30 percent and terraza capacity at 50 percent 
  • Other measures remain the same as level 2 

Level 4: 

Currently, 85 percent of the Galician population is in level 4. 

  • Bars and restaurants can open until 9pm with a capacity of 50 percent inside and 75 percent on the terrazas. 
  • Travel is allowed between provinces, but not to those with higher alert levels. 
  • Up to six people can meet who don’t live together. 
  • Sports centres, gyms and pools can open. Sports can be practiced with up to four other people, while wearing masks. 

Click here to find out which municipality is at which level. 

Municipalities that have had more than 500 cases per 100,000 residents in the last 14 days will remain closed. 

A curfew in Galicia remains in place from 10pm to 6am.

Basque Country

The Basque Country will tighten its restrictions slightly over the Easter period. These are:

  • Social gatherings are limited to four people inside and six outside. 
  • The ban on travel in and out of the Basque Country remains in place with the requirement that those with justified cause complete the form required by regional authorities HERE
  • The curfew is in place between 10pm and 6am.
  • Bars and restaurants must close between 8pm and 6am with a limited capacity of 50 percent inside, however there is no limit on the capacity of the terrazas. 
  • Shops can stay open until 9pm with a capacity of 40 percent in shops bigger than 150 metres squared and a capacity of 60 percent in those that are equal or smaller. 
  • Suspension of musical performances and rehearsals. 

Navarra

Navarra announced more restrictions for the Puente de San José and Easter. These are: 

  • Interior of bars and restaurants to operate at 30 percent. Terrace dining allowed. 
  • Social gatherings reduced to those from within the same household although those who live alone can form a bubble.
  • Social gatherings are limited to four inside and six outside. 
  • Smoking on terrazas or walking in the street is banned.
  • The curfew remains in place between 11pm and 6am.
  • The border remains closed. 

The Local Barcelona News

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