The Government of the Generalitat will put an end this Monday to the total ban on access to natural environments in the majority of municipalities affected by this measure. This was announced by President Salvador Illa during a meeting with the mayors concerned. As planned, the veto will cease to be in force on December 15 for 79 localities, including Barcelona, which are in the so-called “low risk” zone for African swine fever.
From Monday, the only municipalities in which the ban on walking even alone through forests, river banks and meadows will remain in force are those located in the zone classified as “high risk”. A perimeter in which 16 dead wild boars contaminated by this virus have already been located. These are the municipalities of Badia del Vallès, Barberà del Vallès, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Montcada i Reixac, Polinyà, Ripollet, Rubí, Sabadell, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Sant Quirze del Vallès and Terrassa.
As no new outbreaks have been detected in the widest area, the Government has decided to relax the restrictions. This means that walks and excursions can resume in environments such as the Collserola Natural Park, very popular with residents of the Barcelona metropolitan area.
However, this news does not mean that these 79 municipalities, less affected by the epidemic, will find themselves without restrictions in their natural environment. For example, group leisure activities in forest areas will continue to be prohibited. “We try not to attract large crowds to the region, but we will ease the restrictions,” said Agriculture Minister Òscar Ordeig.
The Rural Agents also explained this Friday that they had reinforced the armoring of the high-risk perimeter, that of 6 kilometers, with fences that were until now temporary and with the closure of 54 natural passages to wild boars, to prevent their exit. Once this is done, they explain, they now try to capture the wild boars in the second perimeter, 20 kilometers long, with gabias and silent weapons.
In this second crown, some 200 dead wild boars have been recorded since the start of the epidemic, according to chief inspector Antoni Mur. But so far, there are no confirmed cases of African swine fever.
The only wild boar carcasses testing positive for ASF were the 16 found in the main infected area. This Friday, three were confirmed. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, 115 corpses were also analyzed and found to be negative.
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