IT WAS practically inevitable and would not have taken a genius in marketing to come up with the idea, but now it's started, it's bound to continue in every other field: Spain's top football teams have started selling protective masks bearing their colours and logo, with everyone from Barça and Atlético de Madrid through to Huesca FC now at it.
Nobody is quite sure which country, team or even sport the idea first occurred to, given that the United States' national basketball association, the NBA, is now selling souvenir masks for its various teams with the proceeds going to charity, whilst Bayern Munich has recycled club scarves to make nice warm masks in case the weather does not improve in the next few weeks or they still need to be worn in winter.
The latter had planned to give out its official scarves during the now-aborted match for the return of the Champions' League at the Allianz Arena against Chelsea FC, to celebrate the German club's 120th anniversary.
Instead, the scarves have become masks bearing the slogan, 'WeKickCorona'.
FC Barcelona is selling its own blue-and-maroon official souvenir masks at its Barça Store on the Passeig de Gràcia, the city's main shopping street, and also online via the Barça Store at the club's Camp Nou stadium.
They will roll out to future Barça Stores due to open over the next few weeks.
These masks are reusable and protection against Covid-19 transmission is guaranteed by the manufacturers for up to 40 washes, and for a maximum of eight hours between washes.
As well as the adult versions, masks designed to fit children aged three to six and also seven to 12 have been designed.
By law, everyone aged six or over is required to wear a mask in any enclosed space, on public transport, in private transport where one or more occupants is not from the same household as the driver, and in outside areas where social distancing – a minimum of two metres between people from different households – cannot be guaranteed.
The only exceptions are those with health problems which would make it dangerous or extremely uncomfortable to wear one – such as respiratory conditions – or when practising sports that would make it too difficult to breathe with a mask on, or in restaurants, cafés and bars where it is impossible to eat and drink with a face-covering.
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