Catalonia to lift mobility restrictions after four long months
Catalonia announced on Thursday that it will lift border closures of the comarcas from next Monday, March 15th, meaning that residents will be able to leave their city confines for the first time in four months.
This was confirmed by the Minister of Health Alba Verges, along with the Secretary of Public Health, Josep Maria Argimon in a press conference today, March 11th.
They stressed, however, that you will only be allowed to leave your comarca (the name given to different territories within the Catalonia region) with the other people you live with.
In Barcelona, the comarca refers to the city of Barcelona, along with the towns of Badalona, Santa Coloma and Hospitalet de Llobregat. This means that residents will now be able to travel further afield.
This is the first time in four months, since October 31st, that residents will be allowed to leave their city or neighbouring towns.
Interior Minister Miquel Samper said that from Monday, police will be able to ask for a self-responsibility certificate, a document explaining your reason for travelling, as well as a certificate of coexistence from your town hall. If you're living in Barcelona, here’s how to get your coexistence certificate. You will also find Catalonia’s self-responsibility form in English to print and fill out here.
Police commissioner David Boneta said that there would be an average of 400 daily checks throughout Catalonia, particularly on the borders with other autonomous communities, on motorways and at AVE stations.
The Catalan Health authorities had some difficulty explaining that there would still be restrictions, but inter-county travel would be allowed under certain circumstances. Like many restrictions during the pandemic, it seems that the rules are not entirely clear cut, however a full list of reasons you can travel outside your comarca can be found on the self-responsibility form mentioned above.
These new rules will come into force at midnight on March 15th and end at 11.59pm on Sunday March 28th, although the Generalitat has said they will most likely be “maintained and extended over time”.
Catalan authorities will also allow the opening of non-essential shops of less than 800 square metres at weekends with a capacity of 30 percent. Up until now, only non-essential shops of less than 400 square metres could open Monday to Friday only, at a capacity of 30 percent.
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This was confirmed by the Minister of Health Alba Verges, along with the Secretary of Public Health, Josep Maria Argimon in a press conference today, March 11th.
They stressed, however, that you will only be allowed to leave your comarca (the name given to different territories within the Catalonia region) with the other people you live with.
In Barcelona, the comarca refers to the city of Barcelona, along with the towns of Badalona, Santa Coloma and Hospitalet de Llobregat. This means that residents will now be able to travel further afield.
This is the first time in four months, since October 31st, that residents will be allowed to leave their city or neighbouring towns.
Interior Minister Miquel Samper said that from Monday, police will be able to ask for a self-responsibility certificate, a document explaining your reason for travelling, as well as a certificate of coexistence from your town hall. If you're living in Barcelona, here’s how to get your coexistence certificate. You will also find Catalonia’s self-responsibility form in English to print and fill out here.
Police commissioner David Boneta said that there would be an average of 400 daily checks throughout Catalonia, particularly on the borders with other autonomous communities, on motorways and at AVE stations.
The Catalan Health authorities had some difficulty explaining that there would still be restrictions, but inter-county travel would be allowed under certain circumstances. Like many restrictions during the pandemic, it seems that the rules are not entirely clear cut, however a full list of reasons you can travel outside your comarca can be found on the self-responsibility form mentioned above.
These new rules will come into force at midnight on March 15th and end at 11.59pm on Sunday March 28th, although the Generalitat has said they will most likely be “maintained and extended over time”.
Catalan authorities will also allow the opening of non-essential shops of less than 800 square metres at weekends with a capacity of 30 percent. Up until now, only non-essential shops of less than 400 square metres could open Monday to Friday only, at a capacity of 30 percent.
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