On Christmas Eve face masks will once again become compulsory outdoors as well as in shops, public transport, public buildings, restaurants, bars, etc.
After holding a virtual meeting with the heads of all of Spain's regional governments, president Pedro Sánchez confirmed that an extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers will be held tomorrow to pass the new legislation.
The measure was immediately met with widespread criticism. The presidents of Aragón and the Community of Madrid, Javier Lambán and Isabel Díaz Ayuso, openly objected to the measure which goes completely against Health Ministry reports that repeatedly insist that the vast majority of infections happen in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation and a high concentration of people, like bars or restaurants, which see no rule changes Sánchez in this latest round of updated legislation.
"Experience has shown us that, together with the vaccine, the use of masks is fundamental to flattening the curve of infection rates", said Sánchez insisting that he had "extensive support" amongst the regional presidents (alleging seven of them had asked him to reintroduce the rule over the past few days).
But the measure has its share of detractors. "We do not agree with making masks obligatory outside if social distancing can be maintained", argued Díaz Ayuso. "In the street, in town squares and out of doors in general the risk of infection without a mask is simply not the same as where there are crowds, or when people are inside, especially in poorly ventilated buildings", insisted Lambán.
Outside of the government, the obligation to wear masks was met with widespread criticism on social media where the hashtag "MascarillasEnLaCalleNo" (NoToMasksOutdoors) is already trending and generating thousands of comments criticising a measure that stops you walking down an empty street without a mask, but allows you to sit drinking, mask free, inside a crowded bar.
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