Outdoor face mask mandate could be lifted by late June

After having to wear face masks in public for nearly a year, and as Covid-19 caseloads continue to decrease and vaccinations increase, questions surrounding their continued use outdoors have begun to abound.

According to Spain's director of health emergencies, Fernando Simón, the outdoor face mask mandate could be lifted by the end of June, state of the pandemic permitting.

While reluctant to commit to lifting the restriction now, Simón believes that if current trends hold, masks may not be required outdoors or at gatherings of people, such as nursing home residents, who have been vaccinated.

Authorities step up vaccine rollout

As of May 31, 2021, 2,875,260 of Catalonia'sresidents have been given a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, 36.7% of the total population. Of these, 1,395,272 have also received a second dose (17.8% of the total population), while 1,492,461 are considered to be fully immunized (19.1%).

This week Catalonia is set to receive an all-time high of 715,870 vaccine doses, with new mass vaccination sites opening on Tuesday in the outskirts of Sabadell, near Barcelona.

Located at the Pista Coberta d'Atletisme track and field stadium, authorities expect to be able to administer 42,000 doses there every week. The venue, which housed a makeshift hospital at the height of the pandemic, will also offer a free shuttle service to those who are unable to drive.

Adults over the age of 50 are currently eligible for the vaccine, although inoculations for the 40-to 49-year-old age group should begin by mid-June.