Bars and restaurants will be able to open until 5 pm without breaks from Monday

Bars and restaurants will be able to open from 7.30 am until 5 pm without breaks in Catalonia from next Monday.

Until now, said establishments were only allowed to offer food on-site from 7 am to 10.30 am and from 1 pm to 4.30 pm. The Catalan government has now decided to remove the gap between breakfast and lunch as well as extend the opening times for an additional half an hour in the morning and afternoon.

However, restaurants will continue serving only delivery and takeaway services in the evening.

Given the steady improvement of the Covid-19 figures since the third wave peaked in mid-January, the civil protection authorities have over the last few weeks been gradually relaxing some measures. 

For instance, bars saw an extension of their hours for breakfast and lunchtimes on February 8, and shopping malls reopened after almost two months spent closed this Monday. 

Speaking to radio broadcaster Rac 1 on Monday, public health secretary Josep Maria Argimon said he hoped authorities could supply a little "more air" from Monday. 

Other measures

In a press conference on Thursday, Catalan authorities announced the return of sports competitions for federation members over 16 years old, and the reopening of club changing rooms.

Universities will be able to resume in-person classes for all their students while respecting a 30% capacity limit.

Restrictions on leisure activities for teens will be relaxed, cultural activities at museums, libraries, and galleries can resume, and community centers can return to run outdoor activities for people over 60 years old.