As of today, and after two years of the pandemic, masks are no longer mandatory indoors. However, there are some exceptions in which it will continue to be essential: health centers, including places of blood transfusion or similar, and pharmacies. Likewise, they will be mandatory for citizens in all types of public transport.
What happens at work? The great doubt has been resolved with the publication of the Health provision. According to its wording, the law does not oblige, as a general rule, to keep the mask in the job position, but this will be a matter that will be decided by the Occupational Risk Prevention Services in each company, which “will be able to determine the appropriate preventive measures that must be implemented in the workplace or in certain spaces of the workplace, including the possible use of masks, if so derived from the aforementioned evaluation”.
Yesterday, the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, advanced in the press conference after the Council of Ministers that although “it will not be mandatory in general”, those responsible for prevention may agree on its use “depending on the risk assessment of the job”.
Given the doubts raised about whether a company can force an employee to wear a mask during their workday, the Ministry responded to this medium: “can your company force you to separate tables? Can it force you to put a glass between tables? It is the same. The prevention unit makes these decisions.”
Health held a meeting with the Public Health Commission yesterday afternoon in which they shared their contributions to incorporate technical recommendations in this regard. In this way, from Health they specify that in the next few days the update of the document ‘Action procedure for occupational risk prevention services against exposure to SARS-CoV-2’ will be published.
On the other hand, with regard to schools, Carolina Darias has been blunt in stating that the mask “will not be used in any case in school environments.” “It was no longer compulsory at recess and now it will not be compulsory in all areas of educational centers either,” she said. It will not be mandatory either indoors or outdoors in football or basketball matches, although the minister has advised “responsible use” in this type of massive event.
Thus, and despite this “general” withdrawal of the mask, Darias has recommended “responsible use” in vulnerable populations such as people over 60, immunocompromised people, with a significant risk disease, pregnant women or teachers with some vulnerability factor; as long as the safety distance of 1.5 meters is not maintained.
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