A group of people who decided to ignore the new Carnival restrictions in Santa Cruz last night (Friday), have caused uproar among the Spanish community as the video went viral on social media. Extra restrictions were been decreed by the Governing Council on Thursday and are applicable throughout the Archipelago until February 22nd which is the traditional ‘Carnival period’.
In the video, the group are seen dancing and singing without respecting social distancing, many of them without masks, on the terrace of a venue located on Calle El Clavel in the Tenerife capital.
The Boletin Oficial of the Canary Islands (BOC) is clear in this regard: “Activities that lead to crowds, not maintaining interpersonal safety distance or improper use of masks, such as parties, dances, karaoke, contests, concerts are prohibited, or ambient music that invites you to dance or sing”. Although many say they think the BOC is unclear about live entertainment or music during this 10 day period, this part is very clear.
The Santa Cruz City Council has announced that it will initiate a file on Monday against the premises that failed to comply with the current health regulations decreed by the Government of the Canary Islands on Friday evening shown on the video.
As reported by the ayuntamiento in a press release: “During Friday afternoon and evening there was surveillance in the most common areas of the city where the hospitality industry is concentrated, and where there were hardly any notable interventions, except for the events that appear in the video that has circulated on social networks today. This premise has already received several sanctions for non-compliance, but this could lead to closure of the venue.”
Yesterday afternoon the police were dispatched to the bar after receiving calls from local residents, and dissolved the group of people, issuing some fines among those present for non-compliance for use of the mask, as well as for the premises, and went back just after 8pm to make sure nothing else was going on.
The town hall have said that police presence is being increased in the city to prevent further breaches from occurring, and say they will be strict on the punishments of people and venues that flout the rules. They concluded by adding that this is a minority among the thousands of people who yesterday knew how to remember the Carnival in a responsible way, without violating any current health regulations.
