Nightlife back as Spanish city pilots digital COVID pass

GIRONA, Spain — Mandatory face masks could not conceal their delight as clubbers in the Spanish city of Girona moved to the thumping beats of house music put on by a live DJ.

For the first time in eight months, Girona had some of its nightlife back this weekend thanks to a pilot digital pass scheme which authorities hope will allow for socializing without spreading the coronavirus.

Since October, concerts have been banned in the northeastern region of Catalonia, while restaurants and bars were required to close at night since December.

But under a scheme to revive the hospitality sector, residents in Girona could for one evening obtain a digital pass allowing them to go to a concert or dine out at five restaurants.

For this, they had to download an app to their mobile phones and undergo an antigen COVID-19 test, show a negative PCR test or proof that they had already had coronavirus.

Gone in 20 minutes

About 250 people snapped up the tickets for Saturday’s clubnight in 20 minutes.

“It seems great to me, because all of this is affecting us mentally. We might be physically well, but not psychologically, so I think this kind of activities, controlled and with security measures, are great,” said Susana Bergaz, 26, a factory worker from Girona.

The five restaurants which took part were allowed to operate at 80 percent capacity. The pass is valid for up to 36 hours and costs between 2.50 euros and 8.50 euros (P145-P493).

“The Open Girona initiative is a project that aims to test a model of digital testing and vaccination passes in order to reopen Girona in a safe and controlled way,” organizers Blockchain Centre of Catalonia, a public body, said in a statement on Sunday.

A trial concert in Barcelona in March where 5,000 people took rapid COVID-19 tests and crammed into a venue without social distancing did not drive up infections, organizers said earlier this month, giving hope to the moribund live-music sector.