The use of face masks outdoors is not mandatory in much of Europe. Since last year, before the arrival of ómicron, the old continent had already relaxed the requirements to wear masks in open public places.
(Read: These cities must continue to use the mask in public space)
But during the end of 2021, and with the rise of the new variant, this requirement was introduced again. Nevertheless, With the beginning of 2022 and with the fall in mortality thanks to vaccination, many countries once again eliminated this restriction.
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This is the case, for example, of Spain, which in February repealed the December decree that required wearing face masks outdoors. For its part, The United Kingdom ended the measure in January and this week announced that the country will lift all restrictions related to covid-19 during the next week.
In that sense, these two nations joined Denmark, France, Germany, among others, which no longer require the measure. Italy, one of the few that still has this restriction in place, announced that as of March 31, it will eliminate the state of emergency. That day it will no longer require its citizens to wear a mask in open spaces.
As for the United States, several states in the country announced their plans to stop requiring the mask. Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, California, Oregon and New York are part of this list. Now, these states are studying eliminating (in March) the use of face masks in closed spaces.
In Poland, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced this Wednesday that from March almost all restrictions related to covid will be lifted, while health authorities reported a rebound in the number of infections and victims.
Thus, as of March 1, capacity restrictions in premises and public transport will be eliminated and the recommendation to work remotely will be withdrawn, in addition to allowing bars and nightclubs to open normally.
In addition, the mandatory quarantine periods for contact with an infected person will be reduced to 7 days in all cases, both for travelers coming from abroad and for those who cohabit with someone who has covid-19.
The obligation to wear a mask will only be maintained in closed public places or means of transport shared with people who are not part of the family nucleus.
And in Latin America?
The Government of Paraguay announced this Tuesday that it will lift the restrictions in force for almost two years to contain the spread of the covid-19 pandemic, but will maintain the requirement to wear a mask in closed places and to present the vaccination card to enter the country. country.
The chief of staff of the Presidency, Hernán Huttemann, announced in a press conference the decision of the Paraguayan president, Mario Abdo Benítez, to annul the decree that imposes the sanitary measures.
“Until today at 12 o’clock at night this decree is in force and as of tomorrow we will no longer have a decree,” explained the official from the Palacio de López (seat of government). The measures are related to the maximum capacity, the requirement to maintain ventilated spaces and encourage hand washing, among others, in shops, work centers, schools, universities and gastronomic venues.
The restrictions also apply to holding social, sporting, religious and even family events. Huttemann clarified, however, that the law on the mandatory use of masks in closed places and in those open “where distance cannot be kept” remains in force.
Ecuador embarked on an investigation to determine if 92% of its population is already immune to covid-19, due to the high level of vaccination and also to the infections already registered, he stated this Monday in an interview with Eph the Minister of Health, Ximena Garzón.
With more than 88 percent of the population vaccinated with one dose, 84% with two doses and 21% with the booster dose, Garzón was pleased with the progress of the process and the response of the population to stop the advance of the coronavirus.
He assured that they have been very well received and that last week they vaccinated between 90,000 and 100,000 people daily between first, second and third doses. In the last hours, the vaccination process began a new stage with the inoculation, in a first phase, of between 90,000 and 100,000 children from three years of age.
The high percentage of vaccination allowed a controlled management of the situation at the peak of infections last January and now the occupancy of beds assigned for hospitalization at the national level for covid-19 fell from 65% to 28%, and from 89% to around 45% those destined for intensive care due to the disease.
So far, the historical record since the start of the pandemic indicates the existence of more than 800,000 cases confirmed by PCR in Ecuador.
92% SEROPREVALENCE? Calculations, still unofficial and based on data from old cases, vaccination and new omicron infections, suggest that “the seroprevalence in the country is 92%,” according to the official.
Seroprevalence is the existing immunity either by disease or by vaccination, He explained, commenting that his Ministry is leading an investigation with the Central University of Ecuador, the University of South Florida and the National Institute for Health Research (Inspi) to determine the aforementioned percentage.
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