Primary and secondary school students no longer required to wear face masks

Primary and secondary school students in Catalonia are no longer required to wear face masks indoors as of Tuesday, a day before other parts of Spain. 

The measure, which was published in Catalonia's official gazette (DOGC) signed by health minister Josep Maria Argimon on Tuesday morning, as the Easter holidays came to an end, makes no mention of post-obligatory education students or teachers and other staff.

Children ages 6 and older have had to wear masks in the classroom since September 2020, when the first post-lockdown academic year began, a measure the text published in the official gazette describes as "efficient" in terms of reducing the risk of infection.  

Now, however, authorities argue that high vaccination rates and the relative mildness of the Omicron variant allow for restriction to be removed.

No masks indoors from Wednesday

The indoor mask mandate in place across Spain will be lifted on Wednesday in all settings except public transport, taxis, pharmacies, nursing homes, and medical centers. This is the first time in almost two years that they will not be necessary. 

Argimon has been a strong proponent of getting rid of the indoor mask requirement, especially in schools, and has consistently urged Spain to consider removing the measure for over a month.

According to him, "if things do not go well" and Covid cases rise again, restrictions can be reimposed.