ARCHIVED - Covid restrictions relaxed from April 12 in Alicante province and region of Valencia

Two different households can now meet indoors and the number of people allowed to gather outside has increased to 6

After nearly a month of some of the strictest Covid rules in Spain, the regional government in the Comunidad Valenciana has now approved more relaxed anti-covid restrictions, which will be coming into effect from next Monday (April 12) for 15 days until April 25.  

According to the new rules, people from two different family groups (or households) can now meet in private homes and the number of people allowed in outdoor gatherings in public spaces has increased from 4 to 6, as has the number of people allowed per table in bars and restaurants. 

Terraces of bars and restaurants may operate at 100 per cent of their capacity and interiors to 30 per cent, until 18:00 in the evening, with a maximum of six people permitted per table.

Another measure coming into place is the relaxation of visitation rules in care homes where the residents have been vaccinated.

The next Interdepartmental meeting against Covid will take place on April 22, when even more relaxed measures will be discussed, if the pandemic continues to evolve positively in the region.

Furthermore, the national state of alarm will be lifted on May 9 and the region of Valencia plans to remove the perimetral closure with the rest of the Comunidades Autónomas on May 4.

At the moment the perimeter confinement of the region continues, shops may continue to open until 20:00 and the curfew begins at 22:00.

As a result of the harsh restrictions imposed by the regional government since the start of the third wave, the region of Valencia has recently lowered all of its Covid indicators to levels similar to those before the summer and the number of people hospitalized with Covid has reduced by half since mid-January. 

Additionally, the number of active coronavirus cases has decreased drastically in the region: at end of January there were around 70,000 people infected with the virus, whereas the figure currently stands at 3,522 (April 8). 

This is, however, a rise from the position of last week, but the regional government hopes that the effect of the vaccination campaign underway at the moment will help to minimise the severity and impact of a fourth wave.

15.5 per cent of the population of the region has now received at least one vaccination as of yesterday. Click for further details