Spain reinstates nightlife restrictions in regions seeing coronavirus surges

Regions in Spain are reinstating their nightlife restrictions due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, The Associated Press reported on Monday.

Fernando Simón, who coordinates Spain’s response to health emergencies, told the news wire that officials are worried about infected young people spreading the virus to vulnerable groups of senior citizens. 

“We are in a complicated situation regarding transmission and we hope that this doesn’t turn into a grave situation at hospitals,” Simón said. 

COVID-19 infections are spreading among Spanish teenagers due to them going to parties and trips at the end of the school year celebrations, according to the AP. 

Simón also said the delta variant of the virus isn’t to blame for the new rise in cases, referring to it as “ not yet the main driver.” 

More than 1,000 infections came from students who recently traveled to the country’s Mallorca island and 700 others have tested positive after a visit to a beach in June.

A group of Spanish business owners said in a statement that their industry is being used as a “scapegoat” for the country’s urge in cases, the AP reported. 

Forty percent of Spain’s 47 million residents have been fully vaccinated, but only 0.7 percent of people younger than 20 are vaccinated. 

The country has focused on vaccinating older residents, which leaves the younger generation as the remaining unvaccinated group, the AP noted. 

“We have to thank the youth for the extra, longer effort that we have demanded from them, as they are only starting to get vaccinated now,” Simón told the AP. 

The country recently imposed an overnight curfew due to surging COVID-19 cases in October.