When will the mandatory use of the mask indoors come to an end?

The date of the end of the mandatory use of the mask indoors in Spain is not known at the moment. With the last change of action against the coronavirus for asymptomatic and healthy patients with mild symptoms, it seems that the end of the obligatory masks is closer. However, the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, continues to avoid dating this measure and explained that “we will go step by step, taking measures with prudence, with progressivity and with graduality”.

The Congress of Deputies overturned Vox’s proposal calling for the immediate removal of the mask. Darias explained from Brussels that this measure will be approved “when experts who advise us also propose”. A few days ago he revealed that he is studying “how and when” to remove the use of masks in interior spaces. Health technicians are looking for the formula, while in other EU countries they have already withdrawn its use in public transport and healthcare facilities.

The latest update of the Ministry of Health on the epidemiological situation in Spain highlights a small upturn in the cumulative incidence of positive cases per 100,000 inhabitants with 466 points. However, coronavirus admissions in plant and ICU beds have dropped in the latest update. The low lethality of the virus and the large percentage of vaccination, with more than 90% of the population over 12 years old with complete pattern, indicate that the end is getting closer.

On 6 April, a meeting of the Inter-territorial Health Council will take place in Toledo, where the debate on the withdrawal of the masks indoors will be discussed, according to the president of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page. In western countries such as the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands or Norway, the mandatory use of masks indoors has been suppressed, in all these countries the incidence of Covid-19 is higher than in Spain.

The epidemiologist and researcher of the Biomedical Health Research Foundation of the Valencian Community (FISABIO), Salvador Peiró, has been in favor of waiting “minimum two or three weeks” before the obligatory removal of masks indoors to monitor how the epidemiological situation evolves.

The Community of Madrid reiterated on Tuesday to the central government the opening of the debate on the end of the obligatoriness of the mask in closed spaces. In Andalusia they advise the use of the cover in crowds, with eyes on the expected Easter. Pedro Sánchez, president of the Government, said that this withdrawal will be carried out in phases and is expected to be maintained in public transport, as in France, and to protect the vulnerable population in hospitals and socio-health centers.