ARCHIVED - Balearics government proposes Covid passport requirement for cultural and sporting events

Covid incidence rates are falling in most of the islands and restrictions on nightlife are to be lifted in Menorca

With coronavirus incidence rates still high across Spain despite the impressive vaccine rollout over the last few months, various regional governments have made attempts to make a Covid vaccination certificate or passport mandatory for entry into certain venues, only for the courts to overturn such measures on the grounds that they would represent an infringement of personal freedoms.

One such case was in the north-western region of Galicia, where earlier this month the regional high court overruled a proposal to make Covid passports obligatory for entry into bars, restaurants and nightlife venues, and after the French national government imposed similar requirements other Spanish regions to make similar attempts include the Comunidad Valenciana. However, Spain’s central government has made it clear that for the time being at least no unifying policy in which Covid passports are put to this use is in the offing.

In spite of all this, though, on Monday August 23 the government of the Balearic Islands approved a motion to request permission from the regional high court to make it obligatory for anyone attending large cultural and sporting events to show proof of having been vaccinated. The same requirement is suggested for visitors to old people’s homes and care homes.

Once again it seems likely that the proposal will be seen as being unfair on children aged under 12 as well as discriminating against those who have exercised their right to opt out of vaccination, but on the other hand the 14-day Covid incidence rate in the Balearics is currently one of the highest in Spain at 399 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

In this context Iago Negueruela, spokesman for the Balearics government, explained on Monday that the intention of the proposal is to provide greater protection against major outbreaks of Covid at certain events. On previous occasions it has been suggested that the Covid passport be required at nightlife venues and restaurants, but this aim has clearly been dropped for the moment as the figures gradually improve in the islands.

It was also announced on Monday that the restrictions on nightlife in the island of Menorca are to be lifted, while restrictions are relaxed in Formentera. On the other hand, the bans on people from different households meeting between 1.00 and 6.00 in the morning remain in force in Ibiza and Mallorca.

Image: regional government of the Balearic Islands