Europe– Italy announced that they would continuously follow the mandatory COVID-19 mask restrictions for the people on flights to and from Italy. In spite of the fact that the EU will end its obligation to wear masks in airports and planes on May 16.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention & Control (ECDC), have decided to lift the mask mandate on aeroplanes in an effort to relax the travel process further.
“From next week, face masks will no longer need to be mandatory in air travel in all cases, broadly aligning with the changing requirements of national authorities across Europe for public transport,” EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky has emphasized.
Moreover, Italy has declared that FFP2 masks must be worn until June 15 on all long-distance public transport, such as buses, trams, regional trains, subways, ferries, planes and high-speed trains.
Moreover, Italian authorities have also mentioned that the compulsory face mask requirements will remain effective in theaters, care homes, hospitals, indoor sporting events, schools, universities as well as concerts until June 15.
As part of efforts to further relax the travel process, the Italian government previously made an announcement that travellers are no longer required to wear a face mask when accessing restaurants, bars, museums and supermarkets.
Along with this, it shed light on whether the need to wear a face mask would remain effective in specific places.
Besides Italy, the authorities in Spain also stated that they would continue to keep in place compulsory face mask requirements on flights, despite EU recommendations.
Spanish Minister of Health Carolina Darias has confirmed that the mask mandate will remain effective through a statement.
“We have recently adopted measures, hand in hand with prudence as well as always with the unanimity of the experts & in this case, the Interterritorial Health Council,” Darias pointed out in this regard.
