Italy announced that next week the use of an outdoor mask will no longer be mandatory

Italy, one of the European countries most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, will end the Obligation to wear a mask outdoors from June 28the Minister of Health announced on Monday.

“As of June 28, we put an end to the obligation to wear a mask outside“, a d Roberto Hope on his Facebook account, specifying that the decision would apply to classified regions “Blank Zone”, Where the circulation of the virus is low. Currently, the measure would apply to all of Italy with the exception of the Aosta Valley (north).

Speranza’s announcement came after the Italian government-appointed coronavirus technical-scientific committee released a report recommending cancel the mandatory use of a mask outdoors in all regions of the white alert zone.

The CTC warns that the population at risk may or may not use a mask, although he recommends its use, because they remain one of the most effective tools to prevent infections, explained the spokesperson of the organization, Silvio Brusaferro, quoted by the Italian press.

Thus, they underline that the epidemiological scenario is characterized by a stable incidence and significantly less than 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the last seven days, indicative of a limited circulation of the virus.

“This will result in a national framework which, from next week, will see all the regions in white zones (…). On the basis of these data, the CTC estimates that in the current epidemiological scenario on June 28, with all the regions in the white zone, the conditions exist (…)

The exception will be events with meeting conditions such as markets, fairs, lines, etc. In addition, people should always wear a mask so that they can use it whenever the need arises or when using public transport.

Meanwhile, last week, the president of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, has announced that the use of the mask will no longer be compulsory outdoors from Saturday 26 throughout Spain, at a time when improves the health situation due to the pandemic.

“It will be the last weekend with outdoor masks, because June 26 is no longer [las] we will wear in public spacesSánchez said at a business event in Barcelona. The Socialist leader specified that the measure will be approved by the government in “an extraordinary council of ministers next Thursday”. “Our streets and faces will regain their normal appearance in the coming daysSánchez added.

Mandatory since May 2020 in the streets, under penalty of a fine, the wearing of the mask was imposed in Spain very shortly after the first wave of the pandemic, which has hit hard the country, one of the most affected by COVID-19 in Europe.

Last April, the authorities had to rectify and clarify that the law did not require the use of the mask for sunbathing on the beach or diving in the sea, because of the rejection generated by this possibility, especially in coastal regions, which are highly dependent on tourism.

Spain represented more than 80,000 deaths Yes 3.7 million infectionsBut the number of cases has declined in recent weeks as the vaccination campaign progresses. According to official figures47% of the 47 million Spaniards have received at least one dose and almost 29% have already been fully immunized.

(With AFP and Europa Press information)

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