Catalonia abandons its health pass, deemed ineffective against the transmission of the Omicron variant

Like other regions or countries in Europe, Catalonia is gradually renouncing its health restrictions. The Spanish region, competent to set its own health measures, will abandon its health pass on Friday January 28. It has been requested since the end of November at the entrance to bars, restaurants and sports halls, but it is considered less effective against the Omicron variant.

Now that this more contagious variant has taken hold, “a significant part of the population is again likely to be infected with the virus regardless of their vaccination status or the fact of having already contracted the disease”justified, in a press release, the regional government, which follows the opinion of its committee of experts.

The region has since last Friday lifted most of its restrictions: the curfew which was in effect from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., the gauges in restaurants and the ban on private meetings gathering more than ten people. The only measure still in force is the closure of nightclubs.

Catalonia has the highest one-week incidence rate in Spain, according to data from the Spanish authorities (in Spanish)but it is less important than in France.