The Spanish government has published details of the new mandatory fask mask rule in the Official State Gazette (BOE) that comes into effect on Thursday.
These are the rules:
- Face masks must be worn in on the street and inside public places or places open to the public when it is impossible to keep two metres apart from other people.
- They are compulsory for all those over the age of 6
- It also advises that masks are worn by children aged between three and five years old but does not make it compulsory.
However, there are specific exemptions:
- Those with a respiratory condition that is exacerbated by wearing a mask or if a person suffers from a disability or condition that would result in behavioural changes that makes the wearing of a mask unfeasible.
- If they are involved in an activity that would be incompatible with wearing a mask – such as eating or drinking.
Many European countries have now made wearing masks a requirement on public transport but the Spanish decree goes further.
Spain has seen one of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks in Europe but is now easing the lockdown gradually.
It already requires the wearing of masks on public transport and is now strengthening the rules across the population. Spain has reported almost 28,000 deaths and 232,000 infections since March but the rate of infection has declined.
Spain had imposed some of the toughest measures on the continent, including keeping children indoors for six weeks. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed parliament on Wednesday ahead of a vote on extending the state of alert for two more weeks.
The decree states: “Using masks will be compulsory on the street, in open spaces and any closed place of public use, when it is not possible to maintain a safe distance of at least two metres (6.5ft).”
While children under six are not required to wear masks, all between the ages of three and five are recommended to wear them. According to El País, that means 45 million people will now have to wear a mask and another 1.3 million will be urged to.
The law underlines that it is following World Health Organization recommendations to minimise infection in closed and public places where there is a large concentration of people.
It says wearing masks is justified as it blocks the transmission of infected droplets in areas where safe distances cannot be guaranteed.
Can wearing a mask protect you against coronavirus?
According to WHO, before putting on a mask, you should:
- Clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
- Cover mouth and nose with mask and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask.
- Avoid touching the mask while using it; if you do, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
- Replace the mask with a new one as soon as it is damp and do not re-use single-use masks.
- To remove the mask: remove it from behind (do not touch the front of mask); discard immediately in a closed bin; clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
