Beach partygoers in Spain’s Barcelona defy COVID-19 restrictions

Dozens of partygoers danced on Friday on a popular beach near central Barcelona, some without wearing masks or observing social distancing in defiance of COVID-19 restrictions, police said on Saturday.

The impromptu party took place on Barceloneta beach and police said they had advised revellers they were breaking health regulations.

“Barcelona is the perfect place to party, to drink, but this is a big problem – the police – they are stopping people enjoying themselves,” a British reveller who gave only his first name Liam, 32, and who was wearing a mask, told Reuters.

Meetings of more than six people in public areas are banned in Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia

and offenders can face fines of 300 to 600 euros ($350 to $700), police said.

“Our officers advise people where there are big groups of people that they are contravening restrictions and sometimes if they do not put on masks or move away, they can face fines,” said a spokesman for Catalan regional police. He did not say if anyone had been fined in this instance.