Spain to lift indoor mask mandate on April 20

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - The Spanish health minister announced on Wednesday that the country plans to lift its indoor mask mandate on April 20.

“Thanks to the very high level of vaccination, our epidemiological situation is favorable,” Carolina Darias told the press.

This will be the first time since the spring of 2020 that people in Spain will be able to remove masks in indoor spaces.

Unlike in other countries, indoor mask use has not been a politically polarizing issue in Spain. Although no longer legally required, a large percentage of people continue to wear masks outdoors.

Early in the pandemic, Spain was one of the hardest-hit countries, and it has grappled with several devastating waves since.

The Health Ministry reports 102,747 deaths from the infectious disease, though the true number is likely much higher due to underreporting at the beginning of the outbreak.

But with 92% of the population older than 12 having received both vaccine doses and just 4% of hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, the government believes the time is right to make a near-full reversion to pre-pandemic normal.

Last month, Spain removed the need for people with mild COVID-19 symptoms to quarantine. In February, the country also scrapped its outdoor mask mandate.

The infection rate in the country remains relatively high, however. More than 400 out of every 100,000 adults over 60 have tested positive for the virus in the last two weeks.