Spain to require masks outdoors as infections jump

It's not clear when the rule will come into effect.

Spain will implement a new rule requiring the wearing of face coverings in outdoor spaces. According to RTÉ, the country's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will hold a meeting today to approve the new rule. However, it's not yet clear when the decree will come into effect. Spain required the wearing of face masks outdoors throughout the pandemic, but this rule ended in June 2021. Since then, masks have been required in indoor spaces, and crowded outdoor spaces where social distancing is not possible. As it stands, Spain has a vaccination rate of 80%, which is among the highest in Europe. The country was able to avoid the surge in infections that other countries are currently seeing until recently. Yesterday saw the county record almost 50,000 new cases of Covid-19. The high numbers are being attributed to the arrival of Omicron. The variant accounts for 47% of infections in Spain. Throughout Spain, local governments are responsible for implementing their own rules regarding public health. In Catalonia, for instance, officials are considering the reintroduction of an overnight curfew as well as limiting capacity numbers for gyms, restaurants and theatres from Christmas Eve. Nightclubs in the region, which includes the city of Barcelona, are also expected to close. Elsewhere, in Madrid, the Government is likely to keep restaurants and bars open over the holidays. If a Christmas trip to Spain is on the cards for you, bear in mind that you'll need a EU Digital COVID Certificate to enter the country. Additionally, all passengers arriving into Ireland must produce a negative professionally administered Covid-19 test. If you are vaccinated or have proof of recovery from Covid-19, you must produce either a negative antigen test taken no more than 48 hours before you arrive, or a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival. If you have not been vaccinated, you must produce a negative test result from a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival. A negative antigen test is not valid for unvaccinated passengers. All passengers must also fill out a passenger locator form.