Spain’s Health Minister, Carolina Darias, said yesterday that the law requiring face masks to be worn on public transport would shortly be repealed.
“Soon, soon, soon…” said Darias, when asked by Cadena Ser when the law would be changed. “The epidemiological situation is improving everyday, but we want to see how the situation in China develops before taking a final decision.”
Darias confirmed that only two positive results had been detected after 569 tests on arrivals from China, and that these had been “recognised variants.” She also stated that, under advice from experts, the requirement to wear masks in chemists shops may also be ended.
Not everyone is in agreement that the mask law should be lifted. Several health experts believe that it may help prevent not only Covid, but a recent resurgence of flu and other contagious respiratory diseases. On Tuesday, the World Health Organisation once again recommended that masks be worn in indoor spaces.
Meanwhile, the Canaries is currently showing the highest rate of Covid infections among the over-60s in Spain. Although the rate of infections is falling, and figures are nowhere near the peaks of July last year, the Canarian figure of 303 infections per 100,000 people is more than double the national average.
The Canaries also recorded the highest Covid death rates in Spain in the New Year, with 37 in the first two weeks of the year. None of the deaths occurred on Lanzarote.
For regular updates, pictures and videos of Lanzarote be sure to like and follow our Facebook page “Gazette Life Lanzarote”.
