The Les Aigües road, in Collserola, has registered this Saturday a constant influx of people walking, running or cycling despite the fact that access to the Collserola Natural Park remains totally closed due to restrictions activated in the face of African swine fever.
For a good part of the day, users have been seen approaching the usual accesses of this very frequented area of Barcelona. Some have chosen to turn back upon encountering the signage warning of the prohibition, but others have continued the route despite the tape placed to prevent passage.
Restricted access and passage only for authorized uses
The current limitations only allow entering the park to access homes, facilities, businesses, and public transport stations. In these authorized accesses, it is mandatory to disinfect vehicle wheels and also footwear.
At one of the entry points, the prohibition tape was half broken. Several people have jumped it to continue advancing along the les Aigües road until a vehicle of the Barcelona Urban Guard approached.
Among those who did stop the walk were Alba and Cris, two visitors arrived from Bilbao. Both followed part of the path until finding the tape and then decided to return.
"There was just a sign at the funicular exit indicating some restrictions, but we didn't stop to look too much" - Alba, visitor
Part of the users ignored the signage
The scene has been repeated with runners, cyclists, and walkers who have gone ahead despite the prohibition. There have also been those who have admitted remembering the restriction but have equally opted to continue a section of the route.
"When I have arrived I have remembered that it was forbidden to walk" - Glòria, visitor
"I believe I do no harm by the fact of walking" - Glòria, visitor
Glòria, arrived from Bellaterra, has explained that she would follow the path a little without entering the forest and that upon returning home she would change her shoes.
Reinforced vigilance for Holy Week
The Mossos d'Esquadra have intensified surveillance during these days of the Easter long weekend in strategic points to contain the outbreak in the surroundings of Collserola. The police insist that it is important to respect the restrictions to prevent the plague from spreading beyond the high-risk zone.
The device is maintained while control measures on wild fauna advance. In the last week, 268 wild boars have been captured within the 20-kilometer radius and in the high-risk zone, three positives have been detected. In addition, Agriculture had already announced that work is underway to delimit a third barrier on the other side of the Llobregat river.
The closure of the park and the passage restrictions remain fully in force, in a context in which in the last week three new cases have been detected within the high-risk zone and in which the authorities maintain the call to avoid unauthorized displacements through Collserola.