The Spanish Cabinet on Tuesday (April 19) approved the end of mandatory mask-wearing in most indoor spaces.
The decision came 699 days after the first mask mandate was issued on May 20, 2020. As of Wednesday (April 20), a face covering will no longer need to be worn in enclosed spaces, except on public transportation and in taxis, healthcare centers, senior living homes (for visitors and workers) and pharmacies.
Masks will no longer be mandatory in workplaces “as a general rule,” said Spanish Health Minister Carolina Darias. Each company is left to make its own decision about usage depending on the relevant risks.
It is now up to the individual to decide on whether to wear a mask, according to their level of vulnerability to the virus, the spaces they inhabit and the cautionary measures they want to take.