​Legal restrictions on gatherings will be tightened in response to the rise in Covid 19 cases

Legal restrictions on gatherings will be tightened in response to the rise in Covid 19 cases. As from Friday, people will only be able to gather in groups of 16, with last orders at bars and restaurants brought forward to 11pm. Establishments at Chatham Counterguard will have to close one hour earlier than everywhere else, and students returning from University will have to test and quarantine for five days on arrival.

There are thirty one new cases of Covid 19 confirmed in Gibraltar today, the largest single-day spike since the start of the pandemic.

Every day brings with it a new unwelcome record. There are currently 128 active cases of Covid 19 in Gibraltar, 126 of them resident. The total number of confirmed cases since Gibraltar started testing is 608, and there were one thousand and sixty six tests carried out in the last 24 hours. There are six people in the Victoria Covid ward. 

ELDERLY RESIDENTIAL SERVICES

There are three confirmed resident cases at Elderly Residential Services, with a further five members of staff infected. Visits to residents at Elderly Residential Service have once again been blocked.

GATHERINGS

The Government has announced a new series of measures to tackle the spread of the virus, including curtailments on the freedom of gathering, which the Chief Minister said he would introduce with a 'heavy heart'.

As from Friday, the number of people legally allowed to gather in a group will come down from twenty to sixteen.

The maximum number of persons who can sit at one table in a restaurant will be reduced from 10 to 8. There will be no live, public, musical performances at bars, restaurants or cafeterias.

The total number of tables permitted will be reduced to a ratio of 1.5 metres per person in their useable common area.

Last orders for alcoholic drinks will be brought forward to 11pm. Only one alcoholic drink per person at a table will be permitted at last orders. Any bars, pubs or clubs that do not have their own kitchen will be required to stop service by 9pm, and close by ten.

Specific rules have been drawn up for Chatham Counterguard, where the Chief Minister said some patrons had not been observing the rules. All restaurants in this area will have to close one hour earlier than elsewhere, at midnight.

MASKS

Wearing of masks will be mandatory in the leisure area of Chatham Counterguard except when sat down at a restaurant table. Capacity in the establishments will be determined to a ratio of 3 metres per person in their useable external common area.

The Chief Minister said he did not expect organised Christmas parties to take place in bars and restaurants this year.

In addition to these new rules, Fabian Picardo said it was STRONGLY ADVISED that over 70s stayed at home, that people wear masks in ALL public areas, and that workers in the private sector return to work from home wherever possible. He say new measures for people who's sick pay are affected by self isolation would soon be introduced.

EXTRA RESOURCES 

Further measures were announced to increase the health service's capacity, with the Nightingale Field Hospital made available within 72 hours if needed, and the additional ICU unit within 24 hours.

Fabian Picardo ended his address offering a vision of hope. He said one day we would wake up, and the nightmare would be over, but pleaded with the community's support, saying united we would never be defeated.