Prognosis

Spain to Mandate Outdoor Face Masks to Stem Omicron Spread

PM Sanchez rules out lockdowns, says country better prepared
Spain saw record daily Covid infections as omicron spreads

Shoppers visit a temporary Christmas gift kiosk in central Madrid, Spain, on Nov. 26, 2021. — Shoppers visit a temporary Christmas gift kiosk in central Madrid, Spain, on Nov. 26, 2021.
Photographer: Paul Hanna/Bloomberg

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By Alonso Soto

December 22, 2021 at 5:00 PM UTC

Updated on

December 22, 2021 at 7:40 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Spain will reintroduce mandatory face masks outdoors and speed up booster shots, ruling out lockdowns for now, as the highly contagious omicron variant sweeps across Europe.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the measures after an extraordinary meeting with the heads of regional governments. The cabinet will meet on Thursday to approve the measures via a decree.