Wednesday December 22, 2021
Corona numbers are exploding
Spain introduces mandatory outdoor masks
Since the end of June, the Spaniards have been able to do without a face mask outdoors, now it has to be used again. With this, the government is reacting to the rapidly increasing number of corona infections in the country, which can be attributed to the Omikron variant. Further measures are planned.
Like other European countries, Spain has announced stricter measures against the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. The government in Madrid ordered that the wearing of masks would again be mandatory outdoors. From when the measure should apply was not initially announced. Tomorrow, Thursday, the cabinet will discuss the specific steps.
The requirement to wear masks outdoors was lifted in Spain at the end of June, but it continued to apply indoors and when there were large gatherings of people outdoors. In addition, many voluntarily wear a face mask outdoors. The government also wants to respond to the spread of the Omikron variant with more vaccinations and more medical staff.
Spain has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, but new corona infections have recently exploded. Authorities reported a new record of 49,823 infections in one day on Tuesday. The omicron variant accounts for almost half of all new infections. The seven-day incidence was 424 and thus higher than in Germany. However, because of the high vaccination rate of more than 80 percent, many sick people have no or only mild symptoms. The situation in the intensive care units is more relaxed compared to Germany.
Catalonia could not prevail with the demand for stricter restrictions nationwide. The region with the tourist metropolis of Barcelona announced on Tuesday, among other things, the closure of clubs, bars and discos as well as restrictions on going out from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. and the limitation of the occupancy of restaurants, cultural and leisure facilities. These measures are to come into effect on Friday for an initial 15 days. Stricter regulations could soon apply in other regions as well.