Date Published: 20/05/2020
ARCHIVED - BOE publishes face masks order; wearing of masks obligatory from Thursday
ARCHIVED ARTICLE Masks must be worn in enclosed spaces and public areas in which it is not possible to maintain 2 metres social distancing
Image: Walking in the Cartagena countryside: Ayto-Cartagena
The promised order relating to the use of masks has been published in the BOE on Wednesday morning and brings little in the way of surprises.
As expected, masks will be obligatory from Thursday morning onwards in public areas in which it is not possible to maintain two metres social distancing and in enclosed spaces.
It is not obligatory to wear a mask in the street or when walking the dog for example, providing there is sufficient space to ensure that should another pedestrian be encountered, two metres distancing can be observed between the two parties. It is obligatory, however, to wear a mask when entering a closed space, or for arguments’ sake, a building, so going into a shop for example, where the likelihood of being able to avoid other people is minimal.
It remains obligatory to wear a mask on public transport and if being transported in a vehicle carrying people who are not from the same family, ie co-workers being transported in a minibus.
Children under the age of 6 are not obliged to wear masks, although the Health Ministry recommends that children aged 3-5 do so.
No sanctions have been specified in the BOE for anyone failing to abide by the new order. Fines for those failing to wear masks on public transport range between 601 and 30,000 euros. The order does specifically make exceptions; for anyone with respiratory conditions which would be aggravated by the use of a mask, for those for whom a disability or medical condition makes it difficult to wear a mask and for those undertaking activities which are incompatible with the use of a mask. The order gives little in the way of specific details as to what this actually entails although it could be relevant to runners for example, for whom wearing a mask could render breathing a little difficult.
It will be up to members of the public to use common sense and exercise their own discretion in their interpretation of the order. Click here to see the full original text in the BOE.
Order SND/422/2020 takes effect from Thursday morning and is valid for the duration of the state of emergency and any possible extensions of it.
No face scarves; a mask is a mask
The order is quite specific that the public must wear either a hygienic or surgical mask and that the use of scarves, neck ties, pañuelas (large handkerchief often used by the peñas at festive events) or other such materials are not to be worn.
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