To curb the rising number of corona infections, new restrictions are being introduced on Mallorca. Among other things, nocturnal beach and park visits are to be prohibited. However, the regional government of the Balearic Islands wanted to continue discussing the restrictions announced in Palma on Wednesday evening.
According to the statements, the new anti-corona measures should, if possible, come into effect on Friday after publication in the official gazette.
336 new infections in the Balearic Islands within 24 hours
In the Balearic Islands, 336 new infections were reported within 24 hours on Wednesday. The total number since the beginning of the pandemic climbed to almost 7,000 cases – more than a third of them in August. Regional President Francina Armengol admitted the increase in new infections was "worrying". She spoke of a "second wave" of the corona pandemic. With regard to the delivery of patients suffering from Covid-19, the situation on Mallorca and the other islands is "significantly better," emphasized Armengol.
Visiting urban beaches and parks during the night should therefore be banned because it is always mainly young people – including tourists – who meet there in large numbers and very often without the mandatory protective mask to celebrate and consume alcohol.
Tip: Read more news about Mallorca and the Balearic Islands here.
The meetings of young people and also private parties are considered to be two of the main reasons for the many new outbreaks not only in Mallorca, but also in other regions of Spain.
Mallorca adopts further measures
Among the announced measures for those tourists who, despite the current travel warning, want to visit the Germans' favorite island soon, in addition to the new beach rules, the following are especially important:
- Smoking in public spaces should be prohibited entirely.
- At private meetings, a maximum of ten people will again be allowed, unless they belong to the same household.
- And in pubs, restaurants and cafés, the number of permitted guests is to be reduced again – the details had not yet been clarified.
Travel warning for Mallorca issued
In addition to Mallorca and the Balearic Islands, the federal government has issued a travel warning for the Paris region and the popular French travel destinations of the Côte d'Azur and Provence. The Foreign Office in Berlin explained that tourist trips that are not necessary are currently being warned because of the high number of corona infections.
The Federal Government's Tourism Commissioner, Thomas Bareiß, defended the decision on Tuesday and at the same time made Mallorca fans hopes that trips to the Spanish holiday island could soon be possible again. To do this, the new infections would first have to go back.
Also read: Vacation despite Corona – Many countries tighten measures: What you need to consider when traveling in Europe