Alex Trelinski
MASKS will have to be worn outdoors at all times in Spain as COVID-19 infections rise to new record levels.
Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, told the country’s 17 regional presidents in a Wednesday afternoon video conference that the measure would be implemented via a decree to be passed at a specially-convened cabinet meeting on Thursday.
The measure comes into force on Thursday.
Sanchez backed the mask demands from several regional presidents including those from Andalucia and the Valencian Community.
The rule will apply regardless of whether a 1.5 metre safety distance can be kept and exemptions will apply to areas like sport. sport.
However, Spain has brought back the rule that face masks must be worn in public spaces even when outside from Thursday.
“We are going to include some exceptions, when, for example, one is practicing sports; when we are in natural spaces, such as the mountains or the beach; and obviously, when we are alone, with our family unit or with someone who is not from our family unit, but with a distance of 1.5 meters,” Sanchez explained on Wednesday after the measure was agreed in a meeting with regional health authorities.
Sanchez ruled out other restrictions being passed by decree like hospitality hours and capacity as well as reintroducing curfews via a new State of Alarm.
Wednesday’s conference call discussed measures to curb rising coronavirus infections fuelled by the Omicron variant notched up a new daily record of 48,823 cases on Tuesday.
Sanchez reiterated that vaccination was the best way of getting out of the current problem and promised to ramp up booster vaccination teams, as well as virus tracking from Armed Forces members.
Some 80% of the population aged between 60 and 69 years old will have to be vaccinated with a booster dose before the end of the year in a new target set by the Prime Minister.
And 80% of those between 50 and 59 year will have got the booster by January 24, 2022.
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