NATIONAL health authorities in Spain have once again recommended wearing a mask in indoor areas, but have not made this compulsory as yet.
Minister Carolina Darías says an increase in Covid cases means it is 'strongly advisable' to pop a mask on before entering shops, banks, post offices and public-sector offices, as it has already been seen that doing so helps reduce viral contagion.
Regional governments in Madrid, Catalunya and the centre-northern Castilla y León had already made these recommendations to residents ahead of Sra Darías' announcement.
At present, masks are only compulsory on public transport or in healthcare settings such as hospitals, GP surgeries, care homes, pharmacies, fertility clinics, and similar, whilst individual workplaces have been given authority to decide for themselves whether to require their staff to do so.
Outside of healthcare environments, public-facing employees have generally not been obliged to wear masks at work, although many choose to do so, and a significant minority of residents continue to put a mask on when entering a shop.
In general, public health experts do not believe there is any need to take further measures, much less apply restrictions of the type seen throughout practically the whole of 2020 and 2021.
One of the main reasons for the rising number of Covid cases is that the Omicron strain and its variants is much more contagious than its predecessors – although Sra Darías' department explains that it is generally less serious.
People testing positive, and being admitted to hospital, are increasing, but the latter rarely needs to be moved to intensive care and there is far less overall danger to life.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com