Spain’s Basque Region to Limit Large Crowds as Infections Rise

(Bloomberg) -- Spain’s Basque Country is reimposing certain restrictions on large gatherings as Covid-19 infection rates rise, the first Spanish region to do so since restrictions were eased earlier in the year.

In municipalities where the infection rate is above 150 per 100,000 inhabitants, the Basque government will limit large public sports events or others where people can eat or drink, regional health chief Gotzone Sagardui said at a press briefing on Tuesday. The local government will request permission from the Basque Supreme Court to implement a Covid passport requirement for access to restaurants and night clubs, she said. 

“We have to reinforce the measures so that we do not have to take a step back,” Sagardui said. “We’ve not reached the levels previously seen in hospitals, but we have to be vigilant.”

The region’s infection rate rose this week to the highest in two months.

Read more: Germany Plans Curbs for Unvaccinated as Europe Battles Spike

While Spain’s 14-day average infection rate has climbed 67% in two weeks to 82 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, it remains below that of neighboring countries, with France and Portugal reporting over 90 and 155 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively. About 80% of Spain’s population is fully vaccinated.

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