Information regarding the Covid-19 situation and impact on tourism in Cordoba, Spain

2022 Info is available here

2021

22 December

In all of Spain, there will be an obligation to wear a face mask in all outdoor spaces. An according law is scheduled to be passed tomorrow.

17 December

From Monday, December 20, 2021, access to the indoor facilities of restaurants, bars and nightclubs is only permitted upon presentation of a Covid vaccination certificate, a negative PCR test (maximum 72 hours old), a negative antigen test (maximum 48 hours old) or proof of Covid recovery. This restriction is initially in force until January 15, 2022.

15 September

From September 16, alert level 1 will be effective in all of Andalusia, as the incidence value has fallen below 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. This means that movie theaters, concerts and theaters may resume to operating at full capacity.

13 July

Due to a major increase in the infection rate in Andalusia, especially among the young population, authorities are forced to keeping several restrictions in place. This particularly affects the hospitality industry and nightlife.

Bars and restaurants have to close at 1am; after midnight, no new customers are allowed in and nothing can be served.

Outdoors, eateries may operate at their full guest capacity. However indoors, the permitted number of guests is at 75 percent of normal capacity. Up to eight people can sit at tables outdoors and up to six people indoors.

While not seated, a minimum distance of 1.50 meters (5 ft) must be maintained. Buffets are allowed as long as the security measures can be observed.

Discos and pubs are allowed to remain open until 2 a.m. For consumption on the premises, the capacity is limited to 50 percent of the normal capacity and to six people per table. There are no capacity restrictions outside, and eight people are allowed per table.

The use of counters indoors is not permitted; outdoors they may be used unless the safety distance cannot be observed.

Concerts are only allowed outdoors if they are small and a distance of three meters (10 ft) between the stage and the audience is maintained; Dancing is not permitted.

7 July

Due to the significant increase in Covid-19 infections in Spain, the Andalusian government has asked the Ministry of Health to reintroduce the mandatory use of face masks in outdoor places.

18 June

From June 26th on, the obligation to wear a face mask in outdoor places will no longer apply in all of Spain.

4 June

Traveling into Spain gets easier: From Monday, June 7th, 2021, travelers are no longer required to be in possession of a negative PCR test when entering Spain. Instead, a negative antigen test, a proof of a complete Covid-19 vaccination or a confirmation of recovery from an infection must be shown upon entry.

21 May

From June 7th, all invidiuals who are fully vaccinated will be permitted to enter Spain without any restriction.

6 May

The general state of alert in Spain will end on Sunday 9 May.

A three phase transition process back to normality begins:

1. Stabilization phase
2. Preparation phase
3. Normalization phase

Although the general lockdown of Andalusia will end, the system of four health warning levels will be maintained.

Depending on which phase and level of the health warning applies, the permitted opening times and the permitted number of people who are allowed to meet may change.

Despite the general easing, the closure of individual municipalities in Andalusia and the ban on non-essential activities remain in place:

- in municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants, which have an incidence of more than 1,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
- In municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, authorities take appropriate measures on a case-by-case basis.

29 April

On the occasion of the Patio Festival and the re-opening of travel between the provinces of Andalusia, the Mezquita temporarily extends its opening hours as follows:

Monday through Saturday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday: 8.30 a.m. - 11.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. - 7.00 p.m.

27 April

On Thursday, April 29, the travel restrictions between the eight provinces of Andalusia will be lifted. Traveling between the provinces will be permitted again.

Another longed-for measure is that the gastronomy industry is allowed to open until 11 p.m. Bars and restaurants may be entered until 10.30 p.m., after that only guests who are already present may be served.

Stores and shopping facilities may open until 10.30 p.m.

There are no changes to the number of people allowed to meet. Six persons may gather outdoors and in private settings; four people are permitted to stick together in public indoor places.

The nightly curfew remains in place between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Regulations as to local restrictions according to high incidence rates remain in place.

17 April

In order to prevent the spread of new variants of the coronavirus, the Spanish government is extending the obligative ten-day quarantine for travelers arriving by plane from Brazil, Colombia and Peru as well as for travelers arriving from the following nine African countries: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Comoros, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

This applies at least until April 19, while restrictions for travelers from Brazil and South Africa last until April 27.

16 April

The travel restrictions between the eight Andalusian provinces will remain in place until May 9th.

16 April

Beginning Sunday, April 18th, restaurants, bars and stores which are not essential will have to close their premises at 8 PM. This applies to the city of Córdoba as well as all municipalities within the health districts of Guadalquivir and Sur.

15 April

More infections: Beginning Friday, April 16, 12:01 AM, the number of towns in the province of Córdoba that are subject to severe travel restrictions because of an incidence between 500 and 1,000 will rise to seven. These towns are Benamejí, Doña Mencía, Monturque, Nueva Carteya, Palenciana, Villa del Río and Villafranca de Córdoba. As the incidence value of Benamejí and Palenciana is in excess of 1,000, all gastronomy and non-essential businesses there will also be closed.

07 April

The Spanish government amends the general obligation to wear face masks as follows:

Face masks must be worn in the following situations:

- walks in the area of beaches, lakes and all other natural environments,
- use of changing/locker rooms in public swimming pools, except within showers,
- staying outside or inside restaurants, except for while eating and drinking.

The use of masks is not mandatory in the following situations:

- Bathing in the sea, in lakes or reservoirs, in rivers or other natural waters or in outdoor or indoor swimming pools,
- sports in all kinds of waters,
- rest periods before or after bathing and exercising, provided that the minimum safety distance of 1.5 meters (5 ft) with other people who do not belong to the same household is maintained,
- first aid or rescue measures,
- Period of time that is necessary for eating and/or drinking (in places where this is permitted).

02 April

Due to an increasing number of cases, in addition to the towns of Doña Mencía, Nueva Carteya and Pedro Abad, the towns of El Carpio and Nueva Carteya are on a lockdown beginning today. Entering and leaving these places is only possible for an important reason. The municipality of Fuente Tójar, which is also seeing an incidence that would normally require a shutdown, is not affected by the regulation because it has fewer than 1,500 inhabitants.

17 March

The Region of Andalusia decided today that the current regulations to avoid the spread of Covid-19 will remain in place until at least April 9th. This includes the current travel restrictions between the Andalusian provinces as well as the maximum group size of six (outdoors) or four (indoors) individuals.

However, the nightly curfew will be shortened; it now begins at 11 p.m. Subsequently, stores and restaurants are allowed to open one hour longer than before, until 10:30 p.m.

These rules are effective from Friday, March 19th, at midnight.

16 March

Tomorrow, Wednesday, the Andalusian experts committee will discuss the possibility to lift the current travel restrictions between the eight Andalusian provinces. Also a decision should be made on the question whether to maintain the current nightly curfew as it is or to let it begin at 11 p.m. In this case, the permitted commercial opening hours would be extended to 10:30 p.m.

11 March

From tomorrow, March 12th, alert level 2 will apply throughout the province of Córdoba except for the town of El Viso, which still has an incidence rate that does not permit restrictions there be lifted. As for the whole rest of the province, the new level means that everyone can move between all places within the province; businesses including the gastronomy industry are allowed to open until 9:30 p.m. However. traveling outside the province is still not permitted without an important reason. The new regulation initially applies for seven days.

10 March

In the light of the upcoming San José weekend and Easter 2021, the following measures were agreed today between the Spanish government and the autonomous communities of the country to avoid an increase in infections on these days, which normally see people traveling and sticking together. In fact:

The travel ban between all autonomous communities will be maintained between March 26th and April 9th.

The size of groups is limited to a maximum of 6 people outdoors and 4 people indoors, unless all group members belong to the same household.

The curfew applies - depending on the definition of the respective autonomous community - between 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. or 7 a.m., respectively.

Large events such as processions during Holy Week are prohibited.

Tourists are allowed to travel to Spain. However, at this time they will not be permitted to leave the autonomous region in which they arrive in order to travel to other parts of the country.

4 March

Beginning this Friday, March 5th, trade and gastronomy in five of the eight capital cities of Andalusia are allowed to extend their opening times until 9:30 p.m., as these cities have reached alert status 2.

These are the following cities (in alphabetical order):

Cordoba
Huelva
Jaén
Malaga
Seville

In addition, 384 Andalusian municipalities are currently at this alert level.

In addition to the extension of the opening hours, up to 6 people are permitted to meet in private settings as well as in hospitality facilities (outdoors) instead of the previous 4. In the interior of eateries, however, the maximum group size remains at 4 individuals. The sale of alcohol is also permitted until 9:30 p.m.

The incidence rate will be checked every Friday and resulting measures are determined accordingly.

3 March

The Andalusian legislative body announced today that most of the current restrictions remain in effect to avoid a fourth wave of infections.

This means: The region of Andalusia and its eight provinces maintain all travel restrictions; Entry to and exit from the autonomous region as well as travel between the provinces are only permitted for important reasons.

The curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. as well as the shutdown of communities with more than 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and the additional ban on non-essential activities in communities with more than 1,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants will also remain in place.

However, as of Friday up to six people are allowed to meet instead of the previous four.

For municipalities with alert level 2, the permitted opening times for business activities will be extended beginning this Friday. Commercial faclilities, including restaurants, can be open until 9:30 p.m. Alcohol may also be served / sold up to this time.

The current alarm levels are evaluated every week based on the development of the incidence rate and adjusted if necessary.

23 February

The current restrictions that are in effect to contain the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic will be extended until Thursday, March 4. Thus, the travel restrictions to and from Andalusia as well as within the region remain in place. The same applies to the curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., the closure of retail businesses and restaurants at 6 p.m. and the ban on gatherings of more than four people.

22 February

The City of Cordoba announced today the cancellation of this year’s Maycross Fest.

Meanwhile, this year's Patio Festival will initially be maintained. If the pandemic situation ultimately does not allow this, the event will be postponed to October like last year.

10 February

Several Covid-19 related regulations will change.

The current situation in each municipality is now evaluated once a week. Every Thursday, based on the incidence of that time, a decision is made as to whether the current restrictions will be eased, remain in place or be tightened on the following Saturday.

In addition, the infection situation will now be reassessed weekly instead of every 14 days.

As from now, alcohol must not be available for purchase after 6 PM.

8 February

The Andalusian government is considering to ease the current lockdown. It is being determined whether restrictions may be lifted in those communities that see the number of infections dropping on ten consecutive days. Also, the possibility of reassessing the infection situation weekly instead of every two weeks is being considered.

3 February

The 2021 edition of the Feria de Mayo has been canceled today. Held in the last week of May, the Feria funfair is Cordoba’s major cultural event.

2 February

The Spanish government announced that from tomorrow and until further notice, flights originating in Brazil and South Africa are not permitted to land in Spain.

31 January

Today, the 2021 Holy Week processions have been canceled. In normal years, these traditional proceccions attract tens of thousands of visitors and locals.

25 January

It was announced today that entry to and exit from all Andalusian provincial capitals will not be permitted beginning Wednesday, January 27th. Travel to and from these cities is only permitted for important reasons. In addition to Córdoba, these cities are Seville, Huelva, Cádiz, Málaga, Almería, Granada and Jaén.

Meanwhile, the city of Córdoba is tightening several measures to contain the spread of the corona virus. Thus, all city parks will close at 8 p.m. In addition, the city administration appeals to the personal responsibility of each individual and urgently requests anyone to not be in the streets after 8 p.m. unless there is an important reason.

The infection rate is currently at 816 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. If the threshold of 1,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants is exceeded, even more severe restrictions come into effect.

19 January

From today and until further notice, the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba is closed to tourists.

The celebrations for this year's Carnival were canceled today.

18 January

On Wednesday, January 20 at 12 AM, the capital of Córdoba as well as eight more municipalities in the province will be locked down. This means that there are considerable restrictions on freedom to move. So far, 21 municipalities in the region with an incidence rate of more than 500 cases per hundred thousand inhabitants have been facing restrictions.

The measure affects the following municipalities in alphabetical order:

Belmez
Cordoba
Espiel
Iznájar
Obejo
Palma del Río
San Sebastian de los Ballesteros
Santaella
Villanueva de Córdoba

From the beginning of the lockdown and for at least the subsequent fourteen days, it is not permitted to enter or leave these communities without cogent reason.

In addition to this restriction, all activities that are not absolutely necessary must be stopped in the following municipalities, as the incidence of 1,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants is exceeded:

Hinojosa del Duque
The Rambla
New Carteya

These restrictions go into effect on January 20th at 12 AM and apply for at least two weeks.

15 January

The Expert Committee of the Junta de Andalucía announced tonight that it will tighten the current restrictions on Sunday, January 18th.

The entry and exit ban to and from Andalusia remains in place. Travel is permitted for important reasons only.

Due to a lack of legislative power to impose curfew restrictions, the Junta de Andalucía has asked the Spanish government to extend the curfew.

The newly adopted measures include:

Travel ban between all provinces of Andalusia. Travel is only allowed for a important reasons.
Lockdown of all communities with an incidence exceeding 500 infections per 100,000 inhabitants within the last 14 days.
Easteries close at 6 PM.
Closure of all eateries and recreational facilities in communities with an incidence rate exceeding 1,000 infections per 100,000 inhabitants.
Retail facilities close at 6 PM.
All kinds of gatherings/meetings are limited to a maximum of four persons.
Subject to government approval, the curfew will be beginning at 8 PM. Otherwise it continues to exist between 10 PM and 6 AM.

These measures go into effect on Sunday, January 17th, at 12 AM.

13 January

According to the Junta de Andalucía, the committee of experts will meet on Friday, January 15, in order to tighten the current restrictions to curb the worrying increase in infections that is seen in Andalusia.

8 January

The Cordoba City Council has announced that the celebration of this year’s Medieval Market is canceled as a precaution to prevent further spread of Covid-19. Normally attracting tens of thousands of visitors, this is one of Cordoba’s major events.

8 January

The Junta de Andalucía announced today further restrictions to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. These measures include:

the closure of the borders of Andalusia, while the mobility between the different provinces of the region will not be restricted,
the closure of eateries at 6 pm; however cafés are allowed to open until 8 pm, but may not serve alcohol,
stores are allowed to open until 8 pm,
the curfew begins at 10 pm.

The new measures will take effect on January 11th at 12 am and will last until January 25th.

The lockdowns of the municipality of Anora (Córdoba) and the eight municipalities of Campo de Gibraltar remain in place.

1 January

Due to the corona situation, the update of 2021 event calendar in English is facing a little delay. We ask for your understanding. The dates for 2021 events can be found on our website in Spanish: www.cordoba24.info

We wish everyone a happy and healthy new year!

2020 information may be seen here