Catalan plan to ease lockdown restrictions needs Madrid approval

Catalan president Quim Torra has presented the yet-to-be-approved five-step plan to ease lockdown in Catalonia once the number of active Covid-19 cases and pressure on ICUs are at an adequate level. Speaking in a press conference on Sunday after a meeting with Spanish president Pedro Sánchez and other regional leaders, Torra explained that he had asked to manage the relaxation of confinement rules from Catalonia because, according to him, “every region requires a specific response.”

The Catalan president affirmed he was not the only regional leader to request the authority to oversee this – “The situation in Extremadura is not that of Madrid” – and claimed that Sánchez seemed to be receptive to this input, for which he expressed optimism in being granted this demand.

The measures for Catalonia, which were elaborated by infectious diseases expert Dr. Oriol Mitjà’s working group in accordance with World Health Organization protocol, would see restrictions gradually lifted. First, all healthy workers would be permitted to leave home to work and then all healthy people would be allowed out. This would be followed by the opening of schools, bars, and restaurants as well as the go-ahead for events with under 30 people. Eventually, events with over 30 people would be able to take place.

Risk of recurring outbreaks

This, he stressed, would only be able to take place after ensuring mobility levels remained low as well as the number of ICU admissions, but cautioned of a high “risk of recurring outbreaks” as a relatively low percentage of the population has developed immunity.

Torra also highlighted the need for widespread testing and the use of the Stop Covid-19 Cat phone app to track the pandemic’s progression. The Catalan leader suggested facemask-wearing could be made obligatory once everyone’s access to them had been guaranteed and stated that the government was studying the possible implementation of an “immunity passport” in following with bioethical standards to access public spaces.

President Quim Torra expressed the need for further extraordinary economic measures for workers and businesses and said that the Catalan government will go ahead with its own strategy, assuring that the “reconstruction phase” was already being worked on.