End of outdoor masks: In what situations will they continue to be mandatory?

The mask is no longer mandatory on the street. The Official State Gazette (BOE) published this Wednesday the decree, which begins to be effective today Thursday.

The measure had been applied since before Christmas, when the Government, in full escalation of cases by the omicron variant decided to re-impose the use of the mask outdoors. Now, almost two months later, we say goodbye to masks.

Although today the mask is no longer mandatory outdoors as a measure of prevention of the coronavirus, in the station of Atocha, people have been seen early in the morning leaving the station and still wearing it.

They say they agree with the measure, that the ban has been lifted, but some recognize that they still carry it out of inertia.

Goodbye to the mask does not mean a definitive goodbye, because there are some situations in which its use will remain mandatory: interiors, transport…

People aged six and over are required to wear masks in the following cases:

• In any closed space for public use or that is open to the public.

• At mass events that take place in outdoor spaces, when attendees are standing. If they are seated, it shall be obligatory if a safe distance of at least 1.5 metres between each other cannot be maintained, except between cohabitants.

• By air, bus or train, including passenger platforms and stations, or by cable car, as well as by public and private passenger transport in vehicles of up to nine seats, including the driver, if the occupants of the vehicles are not cohabitants. In enclosed spaces of ships and vessels where the safe distance of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained, except for cohabitants.

With regard to schools, the Government had announced that it would no longer be compulsory in the playground, although that decision was now a matter for each autonomous community.