Hope for Spain Easter holidays as country set to ditch face masks ‘very soon’
FACE masks could be ditched in Spain within weeks, with the hope that the Covid restriction will be dropped in time for the Easter holidays.
Masks are currently mandatory in indoor public spaces in Spain but today, experts predicted they could become a thing of the past in as little as three weeks.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said they would cease to be obligatory "soon, very soon".
Speaking to members of his political party, he said: "We have the lowest cumulative rate of coronavirus right now in Europe and soon, very soon, when our health minister says so, we'll be able to remove the mandatory status of face masks indoors."
Face masks are currently only mandatory indoors, as the rule on outdoor masks was scrapped last month.
The mask news came as Benidorm town hall chiefs confirmed the 4x4 metre roped-off beach plots which became a familiar sight at the height of the coronavirus pandemic to ensure social distancing, would not be
used this year.
This follows an increasing number of Covid restrictions which have been relaxed in recent weeks, coming as great news for Brits with upcoming holidays plans.
Yesterday, the Canary Islands - which includes Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote - all began operating at the lowest level of Covid alert.
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The Spanish islands have been operating under a traffic light system since the pandemic began, depending on case numbers and hospital occupancy.
But now, all of the islands are operating at Level 1 - the lowest level of Covid alert.
Under Level 1, there can be 100 per cent capacity at all indoor and outdoor spaces, including cafés, bars and restaurants, and closing times can be by 4am.
Large events can operate at 100 per cent capacity both indoors and outdoors along with children and youth camps.
Some restrictions do remain in place, as there is a 12-person limit on group sizes and, despite the fact that nightclubs can open, dancing is banned.
The Balearic islands have also relaxed rules, with restrictions in restaurants and nightclubs eliminated, including the number of people who can sit together.
Kids no longer need to be fully vaccinated to enter Spain, so teens aged between 12 and 17 can enter the country with proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival.
But Brits with Spanish travel plans are warned to be vigilant of a new bird poo scam which is targeting tourists.
