ARCHIVED - Valencia government ends curfew and extends opening hours across the Costa Blanca

The new relaxed measures will come into force across the provinces of Alicante, Valencia and Castellon from Tuesday, June 8.

After seven months, freedom of movement is being restored across the Valencia region from next week and there will no limits of family and social gatherings - although mask wearing, ventilation and social distancing must be maintained.

"We have decided after seven months to put an end to the curfew. It has been a definitive instrument to control the virus, but from Tuesday, the freedom of movement returns," said president of the Valencia government, Ximo Puig, this morning, (Thursday, June 3), adding that "the maximum of 10 people in social gatherings is over".

In addition, hotels and restaurants can stay open until 1am while pubs and discos will be allowed to stay open until 2am and will have a capacity of 100 per cent on terraces and 50 per cent inside. 

Dancing is still prohibited, meaning while its good news for nightlife venues, there's still a long way to go to return to some form of normality.

These establishments had called for an extension until 3am, but president of the Valencia government, Ximo Puig argued "this is still progress" and that "we have to get to July in the best conditions to guarantee the most beneficial summer possible":

🔴 Actualización Medidas #COVID19

🌛 Decae el toque de queda
👥 Desaparece el límite de personas en reuniones
🌆 Reabre el ocio nocturno hasta las 02:00 h
🍽 Hostelería y restauración hasta la 01:00 h

📆 En vigor a partir del martes, 8 de junio, y hasta que acabe el mes pic.twitter.com/X2cOLgy9zE

— Generalitat (@generalitat) June 3, 2021

Capacity restrictions in places of worship will also be lifted from next week, and plans to reopen activities such as summer schools are currently being discussed.

In terms of fiestas and outdoor celebrations, the government is standing by a ban on traditional Noche de San Juan bonfire celebrations on June 24 "to avoid crowds".

The region has now had the lowest incidence rate in Spain for 11 weeks, making it a "European benchmark as the safest destination in Europe next to Malta", which is the reopening is "progressive" and will continue to be "prudent and responsible".

Masks, however, must still be worn in public places, although not when lying on the beach or swimming.

IMAGE: Archive