Face Masks Obligatory On The Beach

The introduction of new rules from the central government in Madrid, means that it is now compulsory to wear face masks on the beach or in the countryside even when social distancing can be maintained. In theory we should now be wearing face masks going for a walk on an empty beach, or in an open field with nobody around, regardless of the infection rate in our region. In Valencia the rate is currently below 30 per 100,000 inhabitants.

During the interterritorial health meeting last Wednesday [31March], Ana Barceló proposed that beachgoers be exempt from wearing face masks when they are able to maintain a safe distance from other people or while swimming. However, Barceló, along with president Puig, insisted that ‘whatever the norms, people must comply with the recommendations and norms set out by the health authorities’ and that ‘good [infection] numbers can never lead to a relaxation of complying with the measures’.

Meanwhile in Benidorm, a team of 40 beach helpers have been on hand since 1 April to advise and inform beachgoers about the safety rules. The city’s beaches have been divided into plots of 4×4 metres since the start of March, and everything is being put in place following the ‘safe beaches’ model that worked so well last year, said mayor, Toni Pérez.

Source – https://www.spainenglish.com/2021/04/04/valencia-english-weekly-round-up-4-april/