Consell de Formentera president Alejandra Ferrer and the Councillor of Mobility and Housing, Josep Marí, outlined new pandemic containment measures that will be in force on Formentera and across the Balearics starting next weekend.

Main changes:
-No social or family gatherings between 1.00am and 6.00am, except among members of the same household.
-Beaches must remain closed from 10.00pm to 6.00am.
-Restaurants must close at 1.00am, one hour earlier than the current limit (pending possible revision per request by the president). Indoors, where diners were previously six to a table, there will be a four-to-a-table maximum (or an eight-to-a-table maximum on terraces, down from twelve-to-a-table).

Ferrer said both Formentera’s current case count of 109 and its cumulative incidence rate were running high, although she stressed the figures continued to reflect estimations that were based on resident numbers, not the real number of inhabitants currently. “The Consell has always defended the principle of coherent, fair and effective containment measures”, she said, “and this is a case where one of those measures needs tweaking”.

In particular, President Ferrer insisted on the need to rethink new restrictions on hours of operation at restaurants. “An hour less for this sector is a big deal”, she charged, “some will even consider closing”. The island’s top official cast doubt on whether mandating limited business hours would have the desired effect on Formentera, and suggested the move could in fact be counterproductive. “Closing time is when we see the streetside gatherings and private parties that we’re trying to curb”, said the president. “We need help from the restaurants and bars and we want to help them. The island generally has outdoor terraces where people can stay two metres apart, and we don’t think it’s fair to make people who follow the rules pay for the behaviour of a few who don’t”, she said.

Praise for law enforcement
President Ferrer applauded the crucial work of local security forces, particularly Formentera Local Police and the local bureau of inspections. “They’re doing a lot, but last week we asked the Balearic government for reinforcements because there’s not enough of them to conduct controls”, she said. Apart from pressing Palma for help enforcing labour and public health standards, the island’s government asked for additional manpower from the Balearic Directorate General of Emergencies and Interior (DCEI). “DCEI deployments on every island but Formentera are helping to ensure compliance with Covid constraints”, said the president.

President Ferrer closed by asking islanders to be responsible and applauded their efforts to date.

2 August 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera