Europe takes off its masks against COVID: what are the exceptions made by the main countries

Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, the Spaniards take off their masks. The Government approves this Tuesday the new rule that will eliminate it indoors, except in health centers, nursing homes and all transport, a measure that has already been adopted by most European countries.

On May 20, 2020, the mandatory use of a mask was imposed in Spain to stop the coronavirus pandemic: almost two years later, Spaniards will be able to look at each other indoors again, something that, however, other countries in Europe will have to wait for:

In Italy, according to the roadmap for the removal of restrictions approved by the Government, it is expected that from 1 May the obligation to wear a mask in closed places will be eliminated. But experts are divided and have asked to think about it again: the virus continues to circulate and cases tend to decline, but very slowly.

The Italian Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, reiterated that masks are still essential. There does not seem to be a total elimination on May 1: schools should be an exception and for students the obligation should be maintained until the end of the year, as well as in theaters or cinemas.

In Greece, it has been decided to wait for Orthodox Holy Week to pass. As of May 1, the obligation to show the covid passport disappears, not the use of masks indoors, which will only be eliminated on June 1 and not everywhere.

Outdoors, it has ceased to be necessary for more than a month, except in agglomerations, for which there is a “strong recommendation”.

In Portugal, the Government extended until April 22 the declaration of alert for covid-19, the lowest level of disaster response, which requires the use of masks in indoor spaces and transport, and the negative test to enter homes and hospitals for those who do not have the third dose.

In the medium term, the Portuguese Directorate General of Health has warned that it will continue to recommend the use of masks in health services and nursing homes. The health authorities have just warned that summer “will not be relaxed in Portugal”.

THEY ARE NO LONGER MANDATORY

In France, masks ceased to be mandatory indoors on March 14, although there are exceptions to this rule, such as public transport, health centers or nursing homes.

The justification given is that there had been a significant decrease in epidemic pressure in hospitals, compared to the peak experienced by the omicron variant in December and January. The truth is that there was an uptick in cases at the end of March and that since then hospital admissions have been increasing, albeit more moderately than in previous waves

In England, the most populous region in the United Kingdom, masks ceased to be mandatory on January 27, although it is still recommended to wear them indoors with people, such as shops or in transport, although many people choose not to do so.

In Scotland, the obligation to wear a mask was lifted this Monday and it is no longer forced in Northern Ireland and Wales, although everywhere it is advisable to cover your face in some situations.

In Belgium, indoor masks ceased to be mandatory since March 7, the day after which they are required only in public transport, hospitals and nursing homes, although the recommendation for people at risk is maintained, for the general population in closed places of access to the public and outdoor areas where the safety distance cannot be guaranteed.

By mid-February, the mandatory use of masks outdoors and indoors for children under the age of twelve had already been eliminated.

On March 23, the Netherlands eliminated the obligation to wear masks on public transport, which was in fact the last restriction still in force in the country against COVID-19, so their use is now only required on airplanes and in the interior space located after the airport security check.

However, the mask is still recommended for people over 13 years of age in agglomerations, public transport and taxis, as well as during the ten days after having tested positive for COVID-19 when it comes to closed spaces accessible to the public, but in all these cases it is only a recommendation and not an obligation.

In Germany, the compulsory use of the mask indoors was abolished in the whole of commercial life, as well as restoration, in mid-April. It is only compulsory for public transport, pharmacies, doctor's offices, hospitals and geriatrics, and its use is strongly recommended in establishments where the commonly recommended distance of 1.5 meters cannot be kept.

In the Nordic countries as a whole, the obligation to wear masks indoors disappeared between January and February. Poland, where virtually all restrictions were also lifted at the end of March, the mandatory use of masks in medical centers is still being maintained.

Austria only requires the use of the mask in public transport and taxis, as well as in basic necessities shops, but not, for example, in a clothing store or in entertainment venues. The obligation is maintained in hospitals and nursing homes, as well as in religious institutions, but not during rituals such as a mass.

Since the beginning of March, Turkey has applied a relaxation of anti-covid regulations, eliminating the obligation to wear a mask in open spaces, as well as indoors if they are well ventilated and distance can be kept. The mask is still mandatory, and routinely used, on public transport and in movie theaters and similar spaces, although the Ministry of Health has announced new steps towards normalcy in the coming days or weeks.

(with information from EFE)

KEEP READING: