Barcelona and other cities in northeastern Spain will reimpose a night-time curfew starting this weekend to fight a surge in coronavirus cases after the measure won court approval, AFP reports.

The curfew is intended to discourage social gatherings on beaches and in parks to curb a spike in cases of the highly contagious Delta variant, especially among unvaccinated young people.

“It is a difficult measure, but we must stop the infections, protect lives and the health system. It will take effect tonight,” Catalonia's regional head Pere Aragones tweeted after the court ruling.

The curfew will be in place until July 23 although the Catalan government can ask to extend it.