The decision of the Canary Islands Government to relax the measures that control the spread of Covid has clear objectives, to start de-escalation of restrictions and to alleviate the tension suffered by residents of the islands, after two years of the pandemic, and boost economic reactivation.
These are two of the reasons given by the Minister of Health, Blas Trujillo, to extend closing hours and revoke the mandatory use of the Covid Certificate on islands that are at alert Levels 3 and 4.
This means that the use of it becomes voluntary at all levels, and those establishments that request and scan it may stay open until the time specified in the level below the one they are in.
The Governing Council approved undertaking a ‘progressive de-escalation’ of the measures, maintaining caution in the face of healthcare pressure, which continues to still be at high and very high risk.
The order, which was published in the BOC yesterday, nullifies the mandatory use of the Covid Certificate on the islands at Levels 3 and 4, a measure that was ratified by the Superior Court of Justice (TSJC) and that was in force until February 24th, after they approved an extension on January 21st. This revocation activates the use of the voluntary Covid Certificate on all islands regardless of the level they are at.
This means that bars, restaurants, and nightlife venues at any level may request the Covid Certificate from clients and stay open later, until the times that have been amended also as follows:
Level 1: 4am
Level 2: 3am
Level 3: 2am
Level 4: Midnight
Any business in Level 4 (Tenerife and Gran Canaria) that chooses not to request the Covid Certificate, will have to close at midnight, but those that do can stay open until 2am.
Likewise, all the other islands in Level 3 may now stay open until 2am, but if they opt for use of the Covid Certificate they can stay open until 3am if their opening licence allows.
Ratification of the voluntary COVID certificate:
The Governing Council also agreed to request the TSJC for an extension of the voluntary use of this certificate until March 9th, as the order currently expires on February 9th. If they reject it, the above closing times with apply regardless.
