Ximo Puig announces end of regional pandemic restrictions and start of ‘new stage’
The ban on smoking on terraces will be maintained, as will the general regulations for mandatory masks indoors, on public transport and crowded events which is a national regulation.
Thursday 24th March 2022 – Mike Smith
Source: press release – Generalitat Valenciana
The President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Ximo Puig, has announced the end of all COVID-19 restrictions in the Comunidad Valenciana, with the exception of the ban on smoking on the terraces of restaurants and bars which will continue to be maintained.
This was explained by the president after the meeting of the Interdepartmental Bureau for Prevention and Action before COVID-19, the last to be held, if circumstances do not change, as all indicators show the “stabilization” of the epidemiological situation which has allowed the authorities to consider the beginning of a “new stage.”
As the president emphasized, it was agreed this Thursday to lift the restrictions that still affected the hospitality and catering sectors, leisure and entertainment, cinemas, theaters or amphitheatres, general physical and sports activities, and events with a high concentration of people and music festivals. The obligation to have a COVID passport to access residences and social centers has also been lifted.
In all these spaces and activities, therefore, only the general regulations for the use of masks still in force throughout Spain will continue (since this is a national mandatory requirement) so that masks will still need to be worn indoors, on public transport and in crowded outdoor events when attendees are standing or sitting less than a metre and a half away.
Ximo Puig, has pointed out that, thanks to the “co-responsibility” of its citizens, “the Comunidad Valenciana is in the best conditions to face a new stage” that “must be lived with the utmost normality and with the utmost caution“.
He explained that all Valencian indicators show that the region is moving towards “normalization”, with low rates of hospital occupancy and a high degree of immunization, whilst also referring to the fact that 93.7% of the population above 12 years of age is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
However, he called for “caution” from the public, noting that the use of the mask has saved lives, so he said that even if it is no longer mandatory in outdoor spaces, it will be “advisable” to continue using it in certain situations and spaces.
