"To further ruin the hospitality with me that they do not count."

It was January 20, 2020 when the president of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, made that statement.

Two days later, the increase in infections due to the third wave of the coronavirus forced the Ministry of Health to advance the curfew at 10 p.m. and the closure of the hotel business at 9 p.m. And so it will continue to be, at least, one week more.

Despite the debate that has been generated in the Puerta del Sol and the public statements of both the popular leader and his vice president, Ignacio Aguado, to modify this measure "as soon as possible",

the health authorities still advise against extending the

curfew

hours

and, therefore, of the hospitality business.

As EL MUNDO has learned, the plan they articulate within the regional government no longer even contemplates the extension of the hours until midnight.

Sources close to the president point out as a

"key" to extend one hour, until 11 pm

, the curfew "as soon as possible" to give oxygen to bars and restaurants, which with current restrictions have lost their dinner hours due to closure at 21 hours.

"If we could, we would do it tomorrow."

The slogan was already made clear by the vice president and spokesman of the Community of Madrid, Ignacio Aguado, this past Wednesday at the press conference after the Governing Council.

But the epidemiological situation and the high number of infections, touching 1,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, do not allow the modification to take place.

"The technicians of the Ministry are studying it and it will be applied when possible", they say in the Puerta de Sol.

The expectation of the regional government, as they explain to this newspaper,

is to be able to carry out the modification next week if the health situation

- which, according to Health data, begins to stabilize after reaching the peak - allows it, but that decision will remain in the hands of figures and technicians.

What the Community of Madrid will carry out from today Friday, when the modifications in the strategy against the coronavirus are announced, is an expansion of the basic confined areas and the number of people outside the hospitality businesses.

The tables on the terraces will go from being limited to four clients to being able to recover the six that were previously allowed.

In addition, as the president announced on Tuesday, the Community will enforce more severe regulations regarding the use of masks inside the premises.

Although these elements have been mandatory for months, the reality is that these regulations are repeatedly violated in most establishments.

For this reason, the regional government will establish

a stronger legislation regarding the use of these protectors on a mandatory basis

unless the client is eating or drinking.

"It is clear that these closures of activity and these so-called curfews are working, no matter how much we do not like them," said the regional president yesterday in the Plenary of the Madrid Assembly, which stressed that

"while Public Health does not authorize it" Madrid will not lift the restrictions "no matter how painful it is

.

"

This is how the popular leader responded to a question from the Vox spokesperson, Rocío Monasterio, in the Entrevías Assembly.

The leader of the radical right-wing formation asked the regional government to immediately lift the restrictions because "the hotel industry cannot survive any longer closed, the people have to be working and the companies are working" while the regional government "must put the means »To« prevent contagions ».

Given these statements, Ayuso appealed

to Vox to lend "soon" its support to the Budgets

of the coalition Government of PP and Citizens and thus aid to trade and hospitality "will arrive earlier."

"This year's budgets are focused on the self-employed, the middle classes, merchants and those who are having a worse time of this crisis.

(...) That is where I ask for your support, "said the president about some accounts that Madrid has extended since 2019, when the PP still ruled alone and in the minority.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Covid 19

  • Coronavirus

  • Madrid

  • Ignacio Aguado

  • PP

  • Madrid's community

  • Vox

  • Rocío Monastery

  • Ignacio Garriga

  • Isabel Diaz Ayuso

  • Parental pin

  • Face masks

  • Lockdown

  • De-escalated

  • Unconfined

  • New normal

  • Sprouts

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