https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Spain's Health Ministry and the country's regions are meeting to decide whether to scrap the last remaining Covid rule in the country - the mandatory use of masks in hospitals, health centres, pharmacies and care homes. https://www.thelocal.es/20230621/covid-19-spain-to-decide-if-masks-should-finally-be-scrapped-in-hospitals Wed, 21 Jun 2023 12:11:15 +0200 covid-19-spain-to-decide-if-masks-should-finally-be-scrapped-in-hospitals Despite other Covid-19 restrictions being lifted long ago, it is still mandatory to wear a face mask in Spanish hospitals, pharmacies and other health centres. So is this rule set to change anytime soon? Many health experts think it should. https://www.thelocal.es/20230420/when-will-spain-scrap-face-masks-in-hospitals-and-pharmacies Thu, 20 Apr 2023 14:43:17 +0200 when-will-spain-scrap-face-masks-in-hospitals-and-pharmacies Masks are no longer be required on public transport in Spain from Wednesday February 8th, but when and where will they still be obligatory? https://www.thelocal.es/20230203/when-and-where-will-masks-still-be-mandatory-in-spain Fri, 03 Feb 2023 16:49:51 +0100 when-and-where-will-masks-still-be-mandatory-in-spain Spain's Health Minister has announced that in the coming days masks will no longer be mandatory on planes, buses, trains, taxis and other means of public transport. https://www.thelocal.es/20230126/spanish-government-announces-end-of-masks-on-public-transport-from-february Thu, 26 Jan 2023 17:19:48 +0100 spanish-government-announces-end-of-masks-on-public-transport-from-february Spain’s flagship airline Iberia has criticised the Spanish government’s ongoing mask requirement for passengers on planes bound to the country, stressing that it “doesn’t make any sense” and “it affects tourism”. https://www.thelocal.es/20221117/spains-iberia-calls-on-government-to-scrap-face-mask-rule-on-planes Thu, 17 Nov 2022 13:39:14 +0100 spains-iberia-calls-on-government-to-scrap-face-mask-rule-on-planes The Spanish government's health experts have agreed not to review face mask usage on public transport until March 2023, a new report has found, by which stage almost a whole year will have passed since other face mask rules were lifted. https://www.thelocal.es/20221027/face-masks-on-public-transport-in-spain-to-remain-mandatory-until-march-2023 Thu, 27 Oct 2022 12:33:17 +0200 face-masks-on-public-transport-in-spain-to-remain-mandatory-until-march-2023 An outdated announcement by Spain’s Transport Minister on Thursday gave journalists the impression that masks would cease to be mandatory on aeroplanes, but the Spanish government has rushed to clarify what the country’s mask rules for public transport are.  https://www.thelocal.es/20220825/masks-still-compulsory-on-planes-in-spain-despite-confusion Thu, 25 Aug 2022 18:56:35 +0200 masks-still-compulsory-on-planes-in-spain-despite-confusion Face masks ceased to be obligatory indoors in Spain in late April 2022, but could the recent rise in Covid-19 cases force the Spanish government to reconsider whether the rule should be brought back? https://www.thelocal.es/20220706/how-likely-is-it-that-spain-will-make-face-masks-mandatory-indoors-again Wed, 06 Jul 2022 19:06:44 +0200 how-likely-is-it-that-spain-will-make-face-masks-mandatory-indoors-again Spain’s Health Ministry has recommended Spaniards put their masks back on in indoor public settings, calling for "caution" as the seventh coronavirus wave sees cases and hospitalisations rise across the country. https://www.thelocal.es/20220704/spain-calls-for-return-of-face-masks-indoors-as-covid-cases-rise Mon, 04 Jul 2022 14:36:59 +0200 spain-calls-for-return-of-face-masks-indoors-as-covid-cases-rise Spain’s Health Minister has said passengers on flights to and from Spain will have to continue wearing face masks inside planes, despite the EU’s recommendation that the rule be lifted on May 16th. https://www.thelocal.es/20220512/spain-rules-out-eus-proposed-end-of-mask-rules-for-flights Thu, 12 May 2022 13:39:49 +0200 spain-rules-out-eus-proposed-end-of-mask-rules-for-flights Do you still need to wear a mask on airplanes, trains and buses in Spain? And what about at airports, stations or on ferries? Here's what you need to know about when and where you need to wear a mask when it comes to travelling. https://www.thelocal.es/20220421/what-are-spains-new-mask-rules-for-travel Thu, 21 Apr 2022 10:23:01 +0200 what-are-spains-new-mask-rules-for-travel The mandatory EU-wide mask requirement for air travel is set to be dropped from Monday, May 16th, but airlines may still require passengers to wear masks on some or all flights https://www.thelocal.es/20220511/face-mask-rule-on-flights-in-europe-set-to-be-eased Wed, 11 May 2022 18:17:55 +0200 face-mask-rule-on-flights-in-europe-set-to-be-eased Authorities in the two northern regions are asking residents to keep their masks on in indoor public settings only days after the national government scrapped the face covering requirement after two years in place.  https://www.thelocal.es/20220425/spains-asturias-and-cantabria-regions-call-for-return-of-masks-indoors Mon, 25 Apr 2022 14:43:03 +0200 spains-asturias-and-cantabria-regions-call-for-return-of-masks-indoors Now that the Spanish government has approved the law that scraps mask wearing in most indoor settings in Spain, we look at the exceptions, rules and recommendations that will be in place from April 20th. https://www.thelocal.es/20220411/when-will-you-still-need-to-wear-a-mask-indoors-in-spain Mon, 11 Apr 2022 16:52:01 +0200 when-will-you-still-need-to-wear-a-mask-indoors-in-spain As masks are no longer required indoors in most situations in Spain, we decided to find out how many of you will continue wearing one and how many will not. Here's what you had to say on the issue. https://www.thelocal.es/20220421/your-answers-will-you-continue-wearing-a-mask-indoors-in-spain Thu, 21 Apr 2022 18:59:28 +0200 your-answers-will-you-continue-wearing-a-mask-indoors-in-spain Now that masks are for the most part no longer mandatory in Spain, we take a look back at how they've shaped Spaniards' habits, their budgets and even their wardrobes. https://www.thelocal.es/20220421/how-masks-became-an-integral-part-of-life-spain Thu, 21 Apr 2022 11:34:44 +0200 how-masks-became-an-integral-part-of-life-spain As Spain drops its indoor face mask rule today, do you think you will continue wearing one in indoor public settings or not? Join the conversation in our latest poll. https://www.thelocal.es/20220420/have-you-say-will-you-continue-wearing-a-mask-indoors-in-spain Wed, 20 Apr 2022 13:24:48 +0200 have-you-say-will-you-continue-wearing-a-mask-indoors-in-spain After 700 days, Spain has finally said goodbye to the vast majority of its indoor face mask rules, but is the country actually ready to do so? https://www.thelocal.es/20220420/is-spain-ready-to-get-rid-of-masks-indoors Wed, 20 Apr 2022 13:27:35 +0200 is-spain-ready-to-get-rid-of-masks-indoors The Spanish Cabinet on Tuesday passed the highly anticipated decree which will allow people in Spain to no longer have to wear face masks in most indoor settings from Wednesday April 20th. https://www.thelocal.es/20220419/spain-approves-law-that-ends-indoor-mask-rule-on-april-20th Tue, 19 Apr 2022 18:04:04 +0200 spain-approves-law-that-ends-indoor-mask-rule-on-april-20th Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has stressed that masks will “very soon” no longer be required in indoor public settings, but with Covid-19 infections still relatively high in the country, when is the mask rule likely to actually be scrapped? https://www.thelocal.es/20220207/when-will-masks-stop-being-mandatory-indoors-in-spain Mon, 07 Feb 2022 11:47:45 +0100 when-will-masks-stop-being-mandatory-indoors-in-spain