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Madrid makes face masks compulsory – and imposes nightlife restrictions

Latest: Coronavirus in Spain figures (26 August)

The region of Madrid has now also made the wearing of face masks compulsory at all times in public – including whilst sitting outside at a terrace bar or café – and where gatherings are to be limited to groups of 10.

The regional government of the Comunidad de Madrid has even recommended that a maximum of 10 guests should be present for people choosing to entertain at home.

Despite being less affected by the recent rise in Coronavirus infections, Madrid has also decided to prepare another field hospital at the IFEMA conference centre on the city’s outskirts. At the height of the pandemic in March, Madrid had installed a hospital at the centre.

Isabel Díaz Ayuso presenting the new measures in Madrid on 28 July 2020. (Comunidad Madrid)

The right wing People’s Party (PP) president of the Madrid regional government, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, announced on Tuesday that face masks will be obligatory in all public spaces, even when social distancing measures can be respected.

The new rule, already adopted in all of Spain’s 17 regions except the Canary Islands, comes into effect on Thursday.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus in Spain figures (28 July)

The measure is part of an ‘action plan’ to combat Coronavirus (Covid-19) in the region. It includes making all venues close no later than 1.30am – and no customers can arrive and enter any premises after 1am.

The venues will also need to register their customers’ ID in order to make contact tracing easier in the case of a Coronavirus outbreak.

Isabel Díaz Ayuso and Enrique Ruiz Escudero presenting the new measures in Madrid on 28 July 2020. (Comunidad Madrid)

Díaz Ayuso said, ‘We are worried about the behaviour of many young people. They are endangering neighbours but also their academic and working future.’

Díaz Ayuso also said there were plans to test a ‘Covid-19 passport’ in September to identify individuals who have developed antibodies to the disease. She said the card would be available to people who have recovered from Coronavirus and also taken a PCR test.

In April, the World Health Organization (WHO) said there was not enough scientific evidence for the effective use of a ‘Covid passport’.

Face masks and social distancing – the rules across Spain up to now

Wearing face masks in Spain was originally compulsory since 21 May for everyone aged over six in closed spaces (including shops and stores), as well as on the street and in public places, where social distancing could not be maintained. It had initially been made compulsory to wear face masks on all public transport in Spain since Monday 4 May.

After the end of the ‘state of alarm’, wearing face masks formed part of the new measures within the approved royal decree that established the guidelines to govern the New Normality. Wearing face masks became obligatory if a social distance of 1.5 metres could not be maintained, with fines of up to €100 if it was not observed.

Spanish Health Minister Salvador Illa said that wearing face masks would ‘remain in place until we permanently defeat the virus, which is when we have an effective treatment or vaccine against it’.

From 9 July, Catalonia made the wearing of face masks compulsory in all public spaces, even where social distancing can be maintained.

The Balearic Islands and all other regions of Spain (except the Canary Islands) soon followed suit. Madrid has now also made the wearing of face masks compulsory, even if social distancing is possible.

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