Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash

This jam-packed Spanish bar has already had to close its doors for failing to respect social distancing measures after venues with terraces were allowed to reopen with limited capacity during phase 1 of lockdown lifting.

Bar Jota on Luis Montoto Street in the city of Seville in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia made the national headlines and became a trending topic on Twitter after it opened its terrace for business.

Reports said that between 20 and 30 people were gathered in the outside space, enjoying beers and other alcoholic drinks after two months of strict lockdown.

In the footage, groups of people are seen standing or sitting in close proximity while many are not wearing face masks, although the measure is not mandatory in Spain.

Meanwhile, bar staff were not separated from clients with a screen and they failed to wear masks or gloves while serving people, according to local media.

Reports said the bar was granted permission for three outside tables during phase 1 of lifting the lockdown, but set up four instead as well as two smaller tables positioned next to the wall.

The bar owner was also reportedly accused of not using a waiter to attend the outside tables and failing to disinfect tables after use.

Seville councillor Juan Carlos Cabrera said: “We cannot undo all the hard work by people staying at home while hospital workers battle the pandemic, especially those who died, to commit this kind of irresponsible act.”

The Bar Jota owner said on Facebook: “When we opened, we were overwhelmed by the avalanche of customers. After a visit by the local police, we were told to make some changes, such as having more distance between the clients.”

The bar owner was also reportedly warned that the venue could be closed if it fails to respect the ‘new normal’.

In the meantime, the bar owner has “decided to close while the measures are being carried out”.

According to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins University, Spain has registered 227,436 cases of COVID-19 and 26,744 related deaths.

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