Spain withdraws the mandatory use of the mask

The Spanish government has eliminated the mandatory use of masks indoors. Public transport and health centers are exempt from the regulation; While its general use is not necessary in workplaces, it is left to the discretion of the employer or the people who work there.

The measure that will take effect from this Wednesday is due to the fact that mortality rates have decreased significantly since the vaccination process began and despite the fact that the different variants have spread rapidly, the authorities have been able to keep the progress under control.

The Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, highlighted that 92% of the population over 12 years of age have been vaccinated with the full schedule, of which 24 million people have received the booster dose. What he called "a very high vaccination system."

The minister also stressed that the mask will continue to be an important tool to protect and care for the most vulnerable, so it will continue to be used in places where there are people at risk from covid-19.

In health residences and shelters for the elderly, visitors must wear a mask, however, those who live there may not wear them, unless they are in places of common use.

While the authorities recommend that the mask be used responsibly, in spaces such as cinemas, nightclubs, bars, restaurants, shopping centers and family or friends gatherings.

For his part, President Pedro Sánchez announced through the Twitter social network the importance of this step in the use of the mask, which he called a “return to normality” after a pandemic as strong as that of covid., which is already 2 years old.