'We will get rid of face masks in schools as soon as we can', says education minister

Although the state of the pandemic has improved considerably in recent months, to the point where most Covid-19 restrictions have been eased, the use of face masks remains mandatory in schools for all children six and over.

"We will get rid of face masks in schools as soon as we can," Catalan education minister Josep González-Cambray said on Wednesday after being asked about the measure by an anti-austerity En Comú Podem MP in Parliament.

According to González-Cambray, face mask use in schools is a "health measure" dependent on epidemiological criteria, which is why the Health Department will have to have a say on the matter. 

Susana Segovia, of En Comú Podem, had raised the question of easing the mandate as the Covid-19 incidence rate, now at 45.67 cases per 100,000 people over the last two weeks, is relatively low. 

Covid-19 in Catalonia

As of October 19, 2021, official figures, released daily on this website, state there have been 998,456 confirmed Covid-19 cases (diagnosed via PCR tests and others including antibody tests), while a total of 23,979 people with or suspected to have had the virus have died since the beginning of the outbreak according to funeral homes.

Meanwhile, 5,951,674 residents have been given the first dose of the vaccine, 75.4% of the total population. Out of those, 5,114,069 have also been administered a second dose (64.9% of the total population). 5,837,061 residents are considered to be fully immunized (73.9%). 

Under 65s who have already had the virus are only required to have the first dose, and others have received a single-dose jab. Therefore, the percentage of those who have had two doses and of people who are considered to be fully immunized do not match.

Filling the Sink podcast

Press play below to listen to the latest Filling the Sink podcast, released on October 17, where Cristina Tomàs White and Cillian Shields join Lorcan Doherty to discuss coronavirus figures and measures.