Bars and restaurants are set to reopen in coastal areas of Spain’s Murcia region

MURCIA’S regional government is planning to allow bars and restaurants to reopen in areas that have low coronavirus infection rates.

The hospitality industry was closed down across the region on November 6 much to the anger of some municipalities where COVID-19 case rates were comparatively low.

A relaxation on the shutdown is expected from Murcia’s COVID monitoring committee this week.

Government spokesman, Ana Martinez Vidal said: “The committee has been asked to establish a health threshold where areas with low infections can see bars and restaurants reopened.”

“Any decision must fully respect all healthcare criteria but we do want to see a respite for the hospitality sector,” she added.

The current order closing down hospitality ends this Friday(November 20) and so the government must make some kind of a decision one way or another.

Cartagena mayor, Ana Belen Castejon, said: “The opening of our bars and restaurants must not be determined region-wide as our local health situation is much better in our area than elsewhere in Murcia.”