Spain: at the time of deconfinement, how to get masks?

Text by: Véronique Gaymard Follow

Spain begins Monday to deconfine certain regions that may move to phase 1, with the opening of terraces, shops of less than 400 square meters or museums, with a limited number of people. Several regions including Madrid and Barcelona on the other hand are not qualified and will remain for a few days in zero phase. Wearing a mask is now compulsory in public transport and highly recommended in public spaces. But providing masks to its employees will have a significant cost, small structures already weakened find it difficult to cope. How to get them, what types of masks and at what price?

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From our special correspondent in Madrid,

In the metro, the sound announcement is looped in Spanish and English: masks are compulsory. Until Friday, masks were distributed to those who did not have them. But now it will be a fine.

Magali comes out of work, she was able to keep her job as a cleaning lady with private individuals. She wears a surgical mask and gloves. "  Before there was no mask, " she says. I found them in a pharmacy at 2 euros or 1.50 euros, the prices were excessive for these surgical masks. Now I find 96 cents a piece, that's the price set by the government.  "

There are masks in pharmacies, like this one in Madrid, on Paseo del Prado. Any citizen can come to buy them, explains Agustin, the pharmacist: “  Surgical masks are priced at 96 cents, and N95, FFP2, around 7 euros per mask. I have stock. FFP2 is used between 60 and 72 hours. The surgeries last 4 hours. We receive them from everywhere, yesterday I was called from Germany, a supplier in English asked me if I needed masks.  "

The pharmacist has also just received a stock from the government of the Madrid region, which distributes this Monday 7 million FFP2 masks, the most protective, free of charge upon presentation of the social security card. Only one mask per person, which should be discarded after use.

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• Coronavirus
• Spain

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