OBSOLETE COVID THREAD Spain will remove indoor mask mandate after Easter

[Ian Campbell]

As expected, the Council of Ministers, meeting in Toledo, has made a recommendation concerning the sole remaining population-wide Covid measure: the indoor mask mandate. They are recommending the removal of the mandate on the 19th of April, just after Holy Week. There was debate in recent days about the timing - before or after the Holy Week festivities.
Masks requirements would be retained for healthcare settings and mass transit. Here is the story in El Mundo:

La mascarilla dejará de ser obligatoria en interiores el 20 de abril

El 19 de abril. Esa es la fecha en la que Sanidad tiene pensado llevar al Consejo de Ministros "un real decreto-ley en virtud del cual las mascarillas dejarán de ser...

www.elmundo.es

 

[Corned Beef]

Oh dear. When the UK did this infections climbed ( though not deaths) My family went from no COVID infections to almost all getting it in a milder form

 

[Peter Nordberg]

Great news! Let´s hope Portugal follows. Planning to do the Portuguese mid-May. But might change my plans because of thid wise decision by Spain.

 

[rappahannock_rev]

Huzzah!

 

[amancio]

please bear in mind that it will still be required in mass transports and in hospital, nursing homes and the like!

 

[SabsP]

Oh dear. When the UK did this infections climbed ( though not deaths) My family went from no COVID infections to almost all getting it in a milder form

We can luckily still choose to leave it on.Which I always do in crowded surroundings and poor ventilation.

 

[Teez]

We can luckily still choose to leave it on.Which I always do in crowded surroundings and poor ventilation.

As a couple in our late 70’s and early 80’s walking next October, we will very likely still wear masks unless infections are down significantly. We both have underlying conditions - heart, seizures, high blood pressure and asthma - so caution is necessary for us.

 

[Tincatinker]

I will always choose to wear a mask. CCTV is such high definition these days that a mask remains my only hope of anonymity.
And seriously, a mask won’t provide you with much protection but, if you are infectious, it will protect others from your snot and sneezes

 

[Former member 99290]

We can luckily still choose to leave it on.Which I always do in crowded surroundings and poor ventilation.

Definitely.

 

[J F Gregory]

Don't change you plans based on mask wearing. You'll miss out one a terrific experience on the Portuguese Camino. We walked there last October and there was little mask wearing. We wore our masks out of politeness for other while in crowds. Otherwise we never wore them.

 

[Karl Oz]

Oh dear. When the UK did this infections climbed ( though not deaths) My family went from no COVID infections to almost all getting it in a milder form

Yes, both to be expected in a vaccinated population. Personally, I continue to wear a mask in confined public areas, but I suppose that will change in the future, inevitably. I wish this dreary epidemic would end.

 

[Former member 99942]

Oh dear. When the UK did this infections climbed ( though not deaths) My family went from no COVID infections to almost all getting it in a milder form

And now you have natural immunity which works like a champ. Congrats.

 

[Former member 99942]

We can luckily still choose to leave it on.Which I always do in crowded surroundings and poor ventilation.

Having a choice is a great thing in my opinion. Now people can determine for themselves the risk.

 

[trecile]

And now you have natural immunity which works like a champ. Congrats.

Until it doesn't. Lots of people have had Covid two or more times.

 

[Former member 99942]

Until it doesn't. Lots of people have had Covid two or more times.

What’s the point you are trying to make here? I’m confused.

 

[trecile]

What’s the point you are trying to make here? I’m confused.

Just replying to your previous statement.

And now you have natural immunity which works like a champ. Congrats.

 

[Former member 99942]

Just replying to your previous statement.

Sure but why? What was the point of what you said. Are you implying natural immunity doesn’t work because people get it later on? Are you implying something about vaccines? I think people realize vaccination protection or natural immunity protection fades over time (to different degrees). Are you saying these are pointless in the end?

 

[peregrina2000]

Whoa, guys, I think this is veering off the rails.

The point of the thread was to announce the end of Spain’s indoor mask mandate. If you saw Ivar’s recent video he pointed out that even though the “outdoor mask mandate” has ended, many people continue to wear masks outdoors, and I assume that will also happen in response to the removal of the indoor mask mandate.

Seems to me that there are two additional useful points that have come out of this discussion:

— many people will continue to wear masks to protect themselves.

— many people will continue to wear masks out of respect for the people around them who are vulnerable and/or continue to wear masks.

And it also seems to me it’s hard to quibble with either.

 

[Former member 99942]

As of 20 April masks will no longer be required in Spain with a few exceptions like hospitals and public transit. You can still elect to wear a mask if desired.

Link below for details and the list of places where masks will still be required.

Hope this information helps in your Camino!

Spain finally ends compulsory use of face masks in most indoor settings - Spain in English

The Spanish government approved at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday the decree to finally relax the compulsory use of face masks indoors after almost two years

www.spainenglish.com

 

[C clearly]

Link below for details

Two points from that news article that are worth noting:

• It is compulsory to still wear face masks on all public transport, including on trains, coaches, planes, ferries, cable cars, trams and also taxis (even with one driver and passenger). However, it is not compulsory to wear a face mask whilst waiting in bus or train stations, on platforms or in airports in Spain.
• At work and in offices, it will be the employers who decide whether staff should continue wearing face masks