Brits heading on Spain holidays this summer may not be required to wear face masks indoors, as the country is set to ditch its face mask rules inside most public places from April 20, it is being reported.
An official notice will be published by the Spanish government on April 19th and come into force the following day.
Minister of Health, Carolina Darias made the announcement during the Inter-territorial Council of Health held today in Toledo.
She confirmed the government will finally take a step forward in returning to normality by decreeing the end of the obligation to wear a mask in closed public places. The measure will be approved in the Council of Ministers on April 19th through a royal decree that will be published in the official bulletin and will come into force 24 hours later.
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The decision has been surrounded by controversy, especially due to the imminent arrival of Easter. Spanish regions such as Madrid and Catalonia wanted the government to ditch the rule immediately, saying the mask had now ceased to be "an effective control measure." Other areas, like Extremadura and Andalusia, requested a few extra weeks before putting aside the masks.
The decree considers some exceptions and recommends maintaining its use in certain contexts, relaying a message of "use your common sense".
It's likely that big shopping centres might advise customers to put on a mask at very busy times and companies could advise employees to wear them if a risk is perceived. Caution will also be advised in supermarkets and commercial establishments in general.
Wearing of a mask will also remain compulsory on public transport and in hospitals and nursing homes.
It will cease to be compulsory in entertainment venues (cinemas, theatres, museums, concert halls, etc) and in bars and restaurants.
The Spanish government has already scrapped the rule to wear masks outdoors, including on beaches, seaside promenades and around swimming pools, bringing relief to holidaymakers, including Brits.
Some regions of Spain have indicated they might defy the government and tell residents and tourists not to wear masks immediately and not wait until April 20th.
There has been some confusion this week regarding entry rules for Brits heading to Spain, after authorities announced that the country would welcome back unvaccinated travellers who could show a negative Covid test result - only to backtrack hours later.
However, hours after the statement was issued, an update followed in which the Spanish Tourist Office confirmed that the current rules are staying in place, and that a document had been misinterpreted, sparking the confusion.
Pedro Medina, deputy director of the Spanish Tourist Office in the UK said: "We apologise unreservedly for the miscommunication earlier today which was due to a misunderstanding of the new entry requirements."
Under the current entry requirements - which also apply for the Canaries and Balearics - anyone aged 12 or over can visit Spain for tourism if they are either fully vaccinated against Covid, or can show proof of recent Covid recovery.
(It's worth noting that to be considered fully vaccinated, you will need to have completed your initial course within 270 days before arrival, or you need a booster jab.)
Unvaccinated tens aged 12-17 can visit, but only if they have proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to travel, and are travelling with vaccinated adults.
Meanwhile, all travellers aged 12 or over will also need to fill out a pre-travel form and obtain a QR code to show at border control.
