Collserola to remain closed ‘for at least three more months’ due to African swine fever outbreak

Collserola park will remain closed "for at least three more months" due to the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak. 

"We are not finished yet," said Minister of Agriculture, Òscar Ordeig, in statements to 3Cat. "We cannot give a message that the crisis is over and that access to the park is possible."

The minister justified the prolonged restrictions as for the "safety of people, of the health crisis, to not transmit the virus and to not scare the animals." He also detailed that there are still around 200 wild boars in the infected area, where a "sanitary evacuation" is needed. 

The statement comes after five new positive cases of ASF last week, following two weeks without any being detected. 

In a letter to the Catalan government, the mayor of Sant Cugat del Vallès, a municipality neighbouring Barcelona which covers much of the park area, asked the Minister of Agriculture to enable "safe spaces" in Collserola to reopen access. 

"The citizens of Sant Cugat have run out of patience," Josep Maria Vallès, expressed in a letter, pointing out that the restrictions cause problems for those who want to walk, go runs or practice sports. "Enough is enough, we are looking for solutions: we cannot keep postponing, postponing and postponing," Vallès said. 

The mayor also insisted on opening access to the urban park of the Volpelleres forest, and complained that there is a lack of "information to the population" about the swine fever outbreak. 

"However, at the end of August the minister himself indicated that he would study the possibility of relaxing the restrictions during the autumn," highlights the local council in a statement. 

"Many people are already entering Collserola, in November it will be one year of these restrictions. I believe that there is a lack of empathy on the part of the Catalan government with the citizens of Sant Cugat and with other cities and towns around Collserola," he said.