ARCHIVED - Spanish government comes under pressure to scrap masks on public transport
The Ministry of Health in Spain insists there is “no proposal” to ditch masks in the immediate future
Spain has been extremely cautious throughout the coronavirus pandemic, but now that more than 20 countries in Europe including Ireland, France and the Netherlands, have scrapped masks on public transport, the Spanish government is coming under pressure to do the same.
Earlier this week the authorities removed the requirement for travellers arriving in Spain to complete the SpTH Covid health control form with the aid of promoting national mobility, and the Association of Urban and Metropolitan Public Transport (ATCU) has argued that the mask-wearing rule is hindering the recovery of urban and interurban travel.
Other experts including Fernando Simón have agreed with this summation, adding that forcing people to wear masks on buses, trains and the metro is pointless when the Covid figures are at their lowest point since November 2021 and there are far more dangerous places for people to gather, like concerts and packed bars.
Another big push is coming from the Madrid regional government, which has requested that a debate about ending mask-wearing in public (with the exception of nursing homes and health centres) be put on the table at the Interterritorial Health Council on Wednesday September 21.
Spain’s Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, is sticking to her guns though, and has categorically shut down the possibility that masks on public transport will be abolished any time soon.
“At this time there is no proposal from the Alerts Committee in this regard and as soon as it arrives, in the event that it arrives, we will be in a position to assess to take, as always, the best of measures and always hand in hand with the expert people,” Ms Darias confirmed on Tuesday.
Image: Pixabay
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