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The Government recommends the use of masks, hygienic calls starting next week, after the suspension of work from non-essential activities expires and when thousands of Spaniards are going to return to their jobs. It does so after two days after the European Center for Disease Control advised on this measure. These are barrier masks, which until now only seemed useful for sick people, and which are totally different from those used by health personnel.

The Minister of Health, Salvador Illa, announced this morning, in a press conference after the extraordinary Council of Ministers, which has approved new economic measures. The recommendation is "especially" for commuting to workplaces when using public transportation.

The Government is going to activate the national production of masks, so that this new measure can be complied with.

Illa recalled that, although the days of paid leave imposed in the last two weeks have ended, "we continue in the confinement phase until at least April 26," which is the date of completion of the second extension of the state of alarm. This means that you can only leave the house to go to work, in the sectors where it is allowed and in the event that telework is not possible, to buy basic products or go to the pharmacy. "We are not in the de-escalation phase, we are preparing it, but we are not in this phase," said the minister.

For this reason, for the Easter party, in one community the return to work, where it is allowed, will take place on Monday and in others on Tuesday, Illa has insisted on the recommendations that people with symptoms, even mild, or in contact with someone with coronavirus, "they should not go" and those who do not present problems do so on foot or by bicycle. If done by car, one person in each row. And both by bus and subway, the distance of at least one meter and if possible two should be respected. Furthermore, in companies it is necessary to guarantee this distance, also in public areas, so that in no case do there be crowds of personnel. The same in places where the public is served. Employers are also asked to stagger the entrances to workplaces so that there are no crowds at specific times, both in companies and on public transport,

To all these tips, which are going to be compiled in a Guide of Good Practices, which will be distributed throughout the weekend, is added the recommendation of the use of masks. The purpose of all of them is "to limit to the maximum the contagions".

The minister has assured that even when the situation of confinement can be alleviated we will enter "into a new normal". "It is not crossing a door is walking a hallway," he said, assuming that the disease control situation will last for months.

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