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Andalusia joined yesterday the obligation to wear a mask and there are already 12 regions that contemplate it , if not in its entire territory, yes in part. Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Murcia, Andalusia and the Basque Country, which stipulated it on July 8 for the town of Ordizia in response to the outbreak. From this Tuesday also Aragon and throughout the week Asturias, Cantabria and Navarra will join.

In months we have gone from one extreme to another as far as masks are concerned. The debate on whether they really work started early , the same month of March in which the pandemic was declared. And the health authorities repeated as active and passive that the healthy population should not use them -also many councilors in the field throughout the territory-.

The WHO itself recommended it, despite the fact that most Asian countries, where in winter it becomes a habitual part of the wardrobe, recommended its use. Over time it became known that the Health (and WHO) recommendation was due to shortages and lack of materials in the initial moments of the crisis . In fact, until early June, the WHO has not recommended its use.

On May 21, through its publication in the BOE, the order SND / 422/2020 that regulates the mandatory use of a mask. It was already recognized there: "The widespread use of masks by the general population to reduce community transmission of SARS-CoV2 is justified not only by its high transmissibility, but also by the ability of masks to block the emission of infected drops, very important when it is not possible to keep the safety distance ".

The order made it compulsory "for people six years of age and older on public roads, in outdoor spaces and in any closed space for public use or that is open to the public, provided that it is not possible to maintain an interpersonal safety distance of at least two meters, being recommended for use by children aged between three and five years ". And some exceptions were established : "Those people who present some type of respiratory difficulty that may be aggravated by the use of the mask and those whose use is contraindicated for health or disability reasons. Likewise, its use will not be required in development from incompatible activities, such as eating food and drinks [also running and cycling], as well as in circumstances where there is a cause of force majeure or a situation of need ".

It is clear that not everyone has applied it responsibly, neither the safety distance nor the mask - many wear it on the neck or below the nose - and given the confinements that are taking place, the return to phase 2 of some cities and not very good data, as Health points out, many autonomous communities have taken one more step: imposing fines for what the pocketbook does hurt. The Health order also contemplated sanctions of up to 600 euros, but always after appealing to the pedagogical function and the will of the citizen, and only when he refused to comply with the police instructions , which would entail disobedience and would allow the fine for the Citizen Security Protection Law.

Thus, and before the outbreak in Lérida, it was Catalonia that began last Thursday to force the use of a mask regardless of the safety distance. The fine otherwise is 100 euros, even if the safety distance can be maintained , but with the exceptions that were already in force: children under 6 years of age, in case of respiratory distress that may worsen or for health reasons, when doing physical exercise outdoors or "when it is incompatible by the very nature of the activities". It is also not mandatory in beaches and swimming pools.

Galicia had already tightened the regulations on June 29 in order to make its use compulsory " whenever it is traveled or is moving on public roads and in open air spaces and, due to the concurrence of other people, it is not can guarantee at all times the safety distance "of 1.5 meters. Also in all closed spaces whenever you meet other people, regardless of the 1.5 meter gap. And in the Basque Country it was established last Wednesday, for now only for the town of Ordizia after the outbreak that arose there, with a return to phase 2 for entertainment venues, for at least eight days.

Catalonia was followed by the Balearic Islands and Extremadura . The first has imposed since Monday the compulsory use in all public spaces and places of public access, except in beaches and swimming pools , under threat of a fine of 100 euros and regardless of whether the distance of sanitary safety can be respected (it is still necessary when doing sports). It has approved a law decree with penalties of up to 600,000 euros to avoid illegal parties.

Since Saturday, Extremadura has made it compulsory in the six health areas into which the region is divided with the same exceptions (health reasons, sports, if you are eating food or drink in a restaurant or terrace). It must also be carried in enclosures with swimming pools and solariums, except inside the pool. And as for sanctions, this region is tougher since they range from 100 euros to 6,000 euros for the most serious offenses .

This Monday Andalusia has joined , which will start it from Wednesday at 00.00, also with the imposition of fines in case of non-compliance. With 19 active outbreaks -12 controlled and seven under investigation-, the isolation of people, not of municipalities, has been ordered, and the possibility of setting limits on wakes is being studied , after one of the outbreaks detected in the metropolitan area Granada was the result of a funeral. The region has not yet mentioned the amounts.

This Monday Murcia also joined , after approval by the Governing Council, and La Rioja , after approval by the Government of the region in an extraordinary meeting and published in the Official Gazette of the autonomous community. The mandatory use of a mask is established for all people over the age of six, both on public roads and in open air spaces and closed spaces for public use or open to the public, regardless of whether or not the safety distance can be maintained. , established at 1.5 meters. The exceptions in both regions, as in other cases, are for health issues, exercise practice or at the time of bathing in beaches or pools, when consuming drinks or food, or "when people who attend a space or environment transportation cohabit at the same address ". And the fines are also 100 euros in both cases .

From 00.00 on Tuesday it is mandatory, regardless of the interpersonal distance in the physical spaces, in Aragon , where there are some 870,000 people in flexible phase 2 due to the increase in coronavirus cases in Huesca and Zaragoza and their area of ​​influence. Exceptions, similar to other regions, and fines also of 100 euros, although there will be "a margin for people to get used to it," as announced by the Minister of Health, Sira Repollés.

Cantabria had been studying it for several days and has decided on its mandatory use, it only remains to regulate it and at any time this week it will be launched. Asturias has also been studying it for days and will implement the rule this week, as announced on Twitter by Asturian President Adrián Barbón on Sunday. Everything indicates that in both cases with similar exceptions and fines as other regions .

For its part, Navarra will regulate this week the mandatory use of a mask after chaining several days with a rebound in cases. The regional government is already working on a proposal that will set the deadlines and specific aspects of the rule such as exceptions and sanctions.

The rest of the regions have not yet made a statement, although given this increase in autonomies that regulate it, the President of Castilla-La Mancha , Emiliano García-Page, announced this Monday that he is going to ask the central government to coordinate with the autonomous communities the obligation the use of the mask at all times. In the autonomous cities, Melilla views with concern the data that comes from other parts of Spain and this same Monday "the procedures were put in place to implement the mandatory use of a mask in Melilla, although the safety distance can be kept." The Health Minister, Mohamed Mohand, assured that there will be "a free distribution of masks in the first weeks" so that people from Melilla with less financial means can comply with the new standard.

Correct use

It is useless to insist on the use of the mask if you do not insist, repetitive as it may seem, on its correct use and that it is not effective on its own. First, there is no use wearing it on the chin, on the head (like sunglasses) or on the elbow, like a bag. Also, if you only cover your mouth and chin, your nose can never be exposed. As obvious as it may seem, there are plenty of people who put it under the nose. On the other hand, wearing a mask is not a 100% guarantee of not getting it, it is one more measure that must complement the safety distance -which is often not being maintained- and proper hand cleaning.

The BOE published on May 20 already recalled it: "The provisions of this order must be understood without prejudice to the need to continue complying with the recommendations of the health authorities regarding the maintenance of interpersonal distance, hand hygiene and other measures of prevention ". He also mentioned the correct way to wear the mask, "preferably hygienic and surgical, covering the nose and mouth."

With the heat that makes these days in Spain, especially in some regions, it is an extra effort on the part of everyone, but a necessary effort to continue increasing infections. If it is not done out of solidarity and responsibility, the health authorities of each region have decided that it will be done out of pocket.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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