Mask rules get tighter in Europe

ITALY: To mask or not to mask is a question Italy settled early in the COVID-19 outbreak with a vigorous “yes.” Now the onetime epicenter of the pandemic in Europe hopes even stricter mask rules will help it beat the latest infection surge.

Other countries are taking similar action as the more transmissible — yet, apparently, less virulent — omicron variant spreads through the continent.

Italy reintroduced an outdoor mask mandate. It had never lifted its indoor mandate – even when infections sharply dropped in the summer. Spain reinstated its outdoor mask rule on Christmas Eve. After the 14-day contagion rate soared to 2,722 new infections per 100,000 people by the end of last week – from 40 per 100,000 in mid-October – Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was asked whether the outdoor mask mandate was helping.

Portugal brought masks back at the end of November, after having largely dropped the requirement when it hit its goal of vaccinating 86% of the population.

Greece has also restored its outdoor mask mandate while requiring an FFP2 or double surgical mask on public transport and in indoor public spaces.

This week, the Dutch Government’s outbreak management team recommended a mask mandate for people over age 13 in busy public indoor areas such as restaurants, museums, and theaters, and spectators at indoor sports events.

In France, the outdoor mask mandate was partially reinstated in December in many cities, including Paris. The age for children to start wearing masks in public places was lowered to 6 from 11.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced last week that people must wear FFP2 masks outdoors if they can’t keep at least two metres (6.5 feet) apart.

In Italy, with more than 2 million people currently positive for the virus in a nation of 60 million and workplace absences curtailing train and bus runs, the government also sees masks as a way to let society more fully function. Vatican City State-mandated FFP2s in all indoor places.

-THE HINDUSTAN TIMES