Government officials in the Balearic Islands have performed a U-turn and reintroduced a host of restrictions in an desperate attempt to reverse rising Covid infections.
UK visitors to the popular holiday hotspots of Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera will be confronted with the strict new rules from this week with a crackdown on the number of people allowed to meet for social gatherings.
From this Saturday all events, which do not involve people from the same household, will be outlawed for the next fortnight.
From this Thursday, restaurants will be forced to shut at 1am with cuts on the number of people allowed to sit at a table.
This will be reduced to eight people per table, instead of 12, in outdoor settings and four, instead of six, indoors. This measure affects bars, restaurants, cocktail bars, music cafes and gaming establishments.
However, the Balearic government has decided against reintroducing compulsory face coverings in public areas. It recommends wearing them outdoors and only taking them off if social distancing can be guaranteed.
Access to beaches and parks will also be banned from 10pm.
The number of positive cases in the Balearics is already starting to fall. The Ministry for Health reported 493 cases on Monday - the third day running that infections had dropped.
Tourism minister Iago Negueruela said: "The objective is to attack the excesses and maintain economic activity in safe conditions."
The tough new measures follow reports of large illegal gatherings of young people for parties and raves.
Curfews have already been reintroduced in other areas of Spain where Covid cases are soaring.
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