Next week the use of the mask on the street in Spain will no longer be mandatory, confirmed the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, in an interview with Cadena Ser. The measure is expected to be approved next Tuesday in the Council of Ministers.

“The idea is that it be published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on Wednesday and can be effective as of Thursday,” Darias said.

Data from the Ministry of Health indicate that infections continue to decline. The autonomous communities reported 183 deaths and 74,368 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of people infected with Covid-19 to 10,199,716 since the start of the pandemic.

Darias has pointed out that the indicators “are improving” and “especially” the one that speaks of the level of circulation of the virus. The mandatory use of the mask on the street returned towards the end of last year in the midst of the explosion of the sixth wave of infections due to the advance of the omicron variant.

In recent days, several European countries have lifted COVID-related restrictions. Outdoor masks are no longer mandatory in France and the Italian government announced on Wednesday that it would publish a timetable for lifting the restrictions.

A group of women walk down the street wearing face masks. Photo: Pixabay.