Spain's Ministry of Health has decided, at the last minute, to toughen the national measures to control the spread of Covid-19 this summer.

The department headed by Carolina Darias presented a proposal to the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System (CISNS) on Wednesday that all bars and terraces in Spain must stop serving drinks and meals at midnight this summer.

Additionally, according to the document, all "bars, restaurants and terraces" must be closed by 1am, regardless of the level of incidence of the virus in the area where the establishments are located.

Also in the proposal was that the number of tables allowed on open-air terraces before the start of the pandemic will be allowed, as long as a distance of 1.5 metres can be maintained between chairs on different tables and with a maximum of ten people per table.

These guidelines, which the Ministry of Health insists must be mandatory throughout the country after its approval by the Interterritorial Council, maintains the original idea of ​​allowing "nightlife and discotheque" venues, even in closed spaces, to extend their closing hours until 2am, depending on the incidence rate in the local area.

Inside nightclubs and hospitality establishments, the maximum allowed capacity would be 50 per cent with a maximum of six people per table. However, if measures are implemented to guarantee ventilation and air quality control, the capacity may be increased by an additional 10 per cent.

What will not be allowed is dancing indoors or standing with a glass in the hand, since "in discos and entertainment venues, the consumption of drinks and food, both indoors and outdoors must be seated at tables, and the proper safety distance must be ensured."

These measures were voted through on Wednesday, albeit without the backing of Madrid, Andalucía, Murcia, Catalonia and Galicia and the abstention of Castilla y León, Melilla and Euskadi.