The autonomous communities optgenerally, for the prudence to eliminate the obligatory nature of the use of masks indoor although there are differences. In the Basque Country they prefer, for the time being, to maintain it, while Catalonia is more likely to withdraw Starting with the schools.
The use of a mask indoors is practically the only restriction in force within the preventive measures agreed to curb contagion, After the elimination of the covid passport, and the one that accompanies citizens almost since the start of the pandemic, it was regulated in May 2020.
Eliminating its use should be a consensus measure, according to the opinion of the majority of the communities, to be adopted in the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System (CISNS), after debate in the Public Health Commission and following the opinion of the experts.
This Wednesday, the lehendakari, Íñigo Urkullu, has marked the difference with the rest of autonomies and has rejected the possibility of removing its use in closed spaces and has even advised citizens to continue wearing it on the street, although “everyone is free to do so”.
Yes for Urkullu, “it is still early for the relaxation of all preventive measures“In Catalonia, the Minister of Health, Josep Maria Argimon, has proposed a progressive withdrawal starting with the schools, in line with the recommendation of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics.
This idea is shared by Andalusia, which wants to start a de-escalation of this measure starting with the youngest children.
In the Valencian Community, its president Ximo Puig has considered that the elimination of its mandatory use should occur “when it can be produced with maximum safety”.
“We cannot be permanently altering the rules of the game if we are not quite sure that the pandemic has definitely disappeared, and definitely has not disappeared”, the Valencian president has stated.
Also from Castilla-La Mancha, the regional government has called for it to be a consensus decision because “it is not a race” in such a way that one community asks for the obligation to be withdrawn and another does not want to.
In the same line, The Minister of Health of La Rioja, María Somalo, has opted for “prudence” and “respect for the technical criteria” of the Ministry of Health.
Another territory that has opted for prudence is the autonomous city of Ceuta. The Government of Ceuta has considered this Wednesday that it is “soon” to eliminate the use of the mask in closed spaces, including schools.
For the Minister of Health of the Government of Ceuta, Alberto Gaitán, it is “premature” to remove it because although the epidemiological situation is improving, the incidence levels are very high.
In other communities, such as Asturias, Parliament has relaxed the use of the mask in regional headquarters.
The deputies of the General Board of the Principality and councilors of the Asturian Government will be able to speak from the lectern or their seats in the hemicycle without having to use it, according to the agreement reached this Wednesday by the Board of Spokespersons.