OFFICIAL: No more masks outdoors; but when is it mandatory to wear one?

Its official, the mandatory use of masks outdoors in public has been abolished as of tomorrow (Thursday) in the whole of Spain, including the Canary Islands after the royal decree from the Ministry of Health was published in the BOE this morning.

This is a major positive and the first sign proving that the epidemiological situation in the country has improved since the arrival of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

The decision to abolish mandatory masks outdoors is made after verifying that they have a greater impact in indoor spaces, where, people who do not usually live together, and large crowds gather.

However, masks are still mandatory for anyone over 6 years of age indoors in places open to the public, regardless of the social distancing, in the following cases:

– In any closed space for public use or that is open to the public.

– At large outdoor events, when attendees are standing. If they are seated, it will be mandatory when a safety distance of 1.5 metres between people cannot be maintained, except for groups of cohabitants.

– In the air, bus or rail transport, including on platforms and in passenger stations, or by cable cars, as well as in complementary public and private passenger transport in vehicles with up to nine seats (including the driver), and in passenger cars if the occupants do not live at the same address.

– In closed spaces of ships, boats, and ferries when the safety distance of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained, except for groups of cohabitants.

HERE ARE THE EXEMPTIONS:
There are certain situations when the use of masks is exempt, as follows:

– To people who present some type of illness or respiratory difficulty that may be aggravated by the use of the mask or who, due to their situation of disability or dependency, cannot remove the mask themselves, or present behavioural difficulties that make its use unfeasible.

– If, due to the very nature of an activity, the use of the mask is incompatible, in accordance with the guidelines of the health authorities.

– In closed spaces for public use that are part of the place of residence of the groups that meet there, such as institutions for the care of the elderly or disabled.

– Also in units intended for collective residence of essential workers or other groups that have similar characteristics, provided that vaccination coverage against Covid-19 is greater than 80% with the complete schedule and the booster dose, accredited by the competent health authority.

– This last exception will not apply to external visitors or workers in residential centres for the elderly or disabled, since in this case, the use of a mask is mandatory.