During the summer months of 2020, the health situation in the capital of Maresme rapidly deteriorated. In September, a slight rebound in cases was detected at the Hospital de Mataró, while in August, a significant outbreak was recorded at the El Mirador de Mataró nursing home, infecting 32 people. This situation led the Mataró City Council to intensify awareness campaigns to prevent uncontrolled spread.

In response to the increased transmission, the Catalan Government implemented general restrictive measures. Since July 2020, masks became mandatory both outdoors and in public indoor spaces, aiming to prevent social “relaxation.” Furthermore, the prohibition of smoking on the street and terraces was studied as an additional prevention measure. Finally, on October 26, 2020, the Government approved a budget reinforcement of 300 million euros for the Department of Health.

One of the points of greatest legal tension occurred in late July 2020, when the Mataró City Council ordered the home confinement of several residents who tested positive for Covid-19. This decision was quickly overturned by the judge, who placed the management of these confinements in the hands of the Public Health Agency, highlighting the legal complexity of mobility restrictions imposed at the municipal level.