The Supreme Court of Valencia has approved the regional administration’s request to reinstate the curfew. This means residents of 32 municipalities in this region are no longer allowed on the streets between 01:00 and 06:00.
After Catalonia put an end to nightlife due to the rapidly rising infection rates, the Valencia region has also taken new measures. Residents of the 32 municipalities with high infection rates must stay indoors between 01:00 and 06:00. In addition, a maximum group size of 10 people now applies in the entire Valencia region.
32 municipalities with curfew
Specifically, the curfew goes into effect in San Vicente del Raspeig (Alicante); Benicassim (Castellon); Alaquàs, Alboraia, Aldaia, Almàssera, Benaguasil, Benetússer, Benifaió, Bunyol, Burjassot, Catarroja, El Puig, Gandía, L’Eliana, Meliana, Mislata, Moncada, Paterna, Picanya, Picassent, Puçol, Requenola, Quart de -roja de Túria, Sedavi, Silla, Taverns Blanques, Utiel, Valencia, Vilamarxant and Xirivella (Valencia).
The regional health ministry took the decision on 9 July. The measures will remain in effect for 14 days. The judge ruled it was a well-considered measure, because the public interest outweighed the disadvantages. In the Valencia region, the number of infections rose sharply in a short time. Hospital occupancy increased along with it with primary care now overloaded. The decision of the judge can still be appealed.
Effective measures to break the upward trend
The Supreme Court of Valencia authorised the measures requested by the regional ministry. According to the judge, the measures are necessary to reduce the rapidly rising infection rate as a result of social contacts and uncontrolled nightlife. A curfew is therefore much more effective than the current measures. The so-called botellones, nightly drinking festivities on the street, are no longer possible with a curfew.
In the ruling on the new measures, the judge also took into account the judgment of the National Police of Valencia. “We have now found the relaxation of the measures has not worked out well (…)”, according to the police report.
