The mask is mandatory from this Friday outdoors except for practicing sports or in natural spaces

In the royal decree published this Thursday, the Government justifies the adoption of this measure in "the exponential increase in cases"

December 24 2021 (10:52 WET)
People with masks in Arrecife during the Covid 19 crisis
People with masks in Arrecife during the Covid 19 crisis

The use of masks is mandatory from this Friday in Spain with the exception of two exceptions: individual sports or in natural spaces where the safety distance of one and a half meters can be maintained with non-cohabitants.

This measure, proposed by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, to the regional leaders at the Conference of Presidents held last Wednesday, comes into force one day after the publication in the Official State Gazette (BOE) of the royal decree that regulates it.

The mandatory use of masks in outdoor spaces comes months after its use declined and in the midst of the escalation of cases caused by the Ómicron variant. It was last June 26 when the central government decided to end the use of masks outdoors if there was more than one and a half meters distance. The return of this measure aroused criticism from some regional presidents such as the Madrid leader, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, while the leaders of Galicia, Euskadi, Andalusia and Catalonia considered it insufficient and urged the adoption of complementary measures.

In the royal decree published this Thursday, the Government justifies the adoption of this measure in "the exponential increase in cases" that "is causing the primary care services, in some cases responsible for the traceability of contacts or in charge of the implementation of the vaccination strategy, cannot perform these functions or their usual activity adequately."

And it adds that "to the intensification" of vaccination "other non-pharmacological measures must be added to control transmission in the current epidemiological situation" such as, in this case, the "correct use of the mask by citizens."

"To that end, this royal decree-law responds with the establishment of a general duty of caution and protection that strengthens prevention behaviors in the entire population, aimed at guaranteeing the right to life and the protection of health", the provision states.

 

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