In Spain, the use of blankets will no longer be compulsory …

Spain joins the shortlist of European countries by announcing that the use of chin straps and masks will no longer be compulsory in public spaces. The measure was possible due to the significant drop in coronavirus infections due to the high temperatures and the fact that nearly half of the population has already been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The decision was announced by Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, who set a date and conditions for the event: it will be from June 26th and only outdoors and public spaces.

“Our streets and our faces will return to their normal appearance in the coming days”Sánchez announced at an event in Barcelona, ​​where he confirmed that “it will be the last weekend with masks outside”.

Vaccination in Spain

The measure will be approved in the coming hours by an extraordinary council of ministers and the key to measurement is the right vaccination rate across the country.

According to official figures, 47% of the 47 million Spaniards received at least one dose covid-19 vaccines and nearly 29% have already been fully immunized.

The removal of the mandatory mask in outdoor spaces is possible because all the objectives that the Government had set have been “scrupulously” achievedSanchez said.

The Spanish chief executive also thanked citizen discipline in the pandemic and the work of healthcare professionals.

The obligatory chin strap

Mandatory use of masks and chin straps has been in force in Spain since May 2020, when the country was mired in the pandemic and the number of infections and deaths placed it among the most affected by the virus.

Since then, anyone who does not have a mask in the streets has been fined, as well as those who have left their homes without a driver’s license and outside of authorized hours.

Last April, the authorities took a first step and clarified that the law did not require the use of chin straps for sunbathing on the beach or dive into the sea.

Since the start of the pandemic, Spain has recorded more than 80,000 deaths and 3.7 million infections, but the number of cases has declined in recent weeks as the vaccination campaign progresses.